Explore my work.....
Music
I have sung live in various ensembles throughout Southern Oregon since 2018 - at the region's famed wineries as well as private events for organizations such as the Ashland Chamber of Commerce and Rogue Valley Manor. In May 2025, I released an album with one of my music partners. "Bésame Mucho" features a collection of Bossa Nova and swing tunes, alongside two originals: "Like Sand"—which reflects on the sudden loss of someone close—and "Rat Race," which critiques city traffic and the system that created it. The album is streaming online and can also be found in Ashland record stores. Additionally, Southern Oregon PBS will air a performance and interview with me in Spring of 2026!
You can book me through my website contact form. I'm an engaging, seasoned singer who thrives on adding live music to the bon vivant atmosphere of tasting rooms and cocktail hours. With a wide repertoire of jazz styles (Gypsy, swing, Bossa Nova and straight-ahead), I can tailor the vibe to your setting and audience. The configuration is also flexible according to your budget, from duets with voice/guitar or voice/keyboard, to trios that include upright bass, all the way up to quintets for big galas. Here's a 2025 clip as a duet.
Video Documentaries
I'm the creator and producer of Southern Oregon PBS's short documentary series The Work of Art. This series captures the artistic process behind each piece, aiming to educate viewers, promote professional artists, and support the region's creative economy. In this interview with SO PBS, I discuss my motivations for creating the show.
Essays
My latest creative nonfiction piece appears in the Spring 2025 issue of Oregon Humanities magazine. "Perennial Lives" expands on the "My Better Half" podcast to explore the creative potential of our later years. (I've always admired OH for its deep writing centered on a theme, and since publishing my essay with them, I've joined their volunteer Editorial Advisory Board to help promote submissions and subscribers.)
I've also published interviews with jazz vocalists like Kurt Elling, and charted my learning curve in Scuba Diving magazine.
Podcasts
As a radio personality at Jefferson Public Radio, I host All Things Considered and the podcasts 'The Creative Way" and "My Better Half." I'm thrilled to share this platform with the artists and producers who contribute to the vibrant cultural scene in Southern Oregon and Northern California - as well as with older adults showing us how to thrive after 45.
My work has earned me a Best Interview award from the Public Media Journalists Association.
Contact Me
Questions or Comments
Use this contact form to book my jazz act, suggest a guest for "The Work of Art" on Southern Oregon PBS, or to suggest a guest for the "My Better Half" podcast.
Vanessa Finney, Ashland, OR 97520
