Notable Venues:

Cliff Bell’s in Detroit, MI
Aretha’s Jazz Cafe at Music Hall in Detroit, MI

Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, MI

Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, MI

Lucille’s Jazz Lounge in Toledo, OH

Michigan Jazz Festival 2021, 2022, & 2024 at Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI

Columbus Jazz & Ribs Festival 2022 in Columbus, OH

JazzFest Michigan 2022 & 2024 in Lansing, MI

Con Alma Jazz Club in Pittsburgh, PA

Merriman’s Playhouse in Southbend, IN

Ginger Rabbit Jazz Club in Columbus, OH

Saline Jazz Fest 2023 & 2024 in Saline, MI

Articles:

Jazz Weekly Article “LADIES SING THE BLUES AND BEYOND…Olivia Van Goor: Don’t Be Mad At Me” by George W. Harris Read Here!

“Olivia Van Goor sings of flora, fondess, and food on debut EP, ‘When The Shadows Fall’” by Maggie Cocco Read Here!

“OUT OF THE "SHADOWS": JAZZ VOCALIST OLIVIA VAN GOOR EXPLORES LESSER-KNOWN SONGS ON HER DEBUT EP AND RETURNS TO BLUE LLAMA” by Lori Stratton Read Here!

REVIEWS:

Linda Yohn / “Don’t Be Mad At Me” Review 2023

From “Over The Rainbow” to “Almost Like Being Love”, you’ll be overjoyed with “Don’t Be Mad At Me”,  a brand-new offering from Michigan-based vocalist Olivia Van Goor.  She describes herself as a young singer with an old soul.  I describe her as a songstress and entertainer of immense potential.  This 7 song EP barely scratches the surface of her possibilities. 

 After Judy Garland’s version of “Over The Rainbow”, can you imagine taking it on?  Olivia musters the confidence to swing it fluidly.  Her phrasing is natural and sincere.  She negotiates the tune’s tricky intervals with ease.  You immediately realize the woman has great ears and that she senses a thing or two about emotions and longing.

 Shulie-A-Bop is another courageous choice.  Sarah Vaughan owned it until now.  Oliva swings it with confidence and clarity.  Drummer David Zwolinski handles his part with equal confidence and commitment – after all the first drummer was Roy Haynes!  A splendid jazz romp.

 Sweetness – delicious easy swing.  This original has classic jazz radio hit potential.  Olivia sings delightfully behind the beat, letting her creative, descriptive words melt in her mouth and into your ears.  Adam Mosley’s piano flourishes are the icing on the tasty cake.

 I Can Tell – honesty rules here.  Olivia admits basic truths of the lover and the beloved.  She crafted a plaintive original melody and sensitive counterpoint/conversation from trumpeter Josie Ala.  As an aside – this session will introduce the greater public to Olivia’s superb trio and guest soloists.  Don’t miss them!

 Nature Boy – the bass opening by Samuel Chase Harris lays the ground for this bluesy treatment of the classic with a mellow montuno piano fanfare from Adam Mosley.

 God Bless The Child – Olivia can sing this song.  Her old soul and years of paying dues in clubs, coffee houses, and cafés in the Midwest give her the right to make the lyric her own.  Tenor saxophonist James Hughes adds to the soulful blues potential.

 Almost Like Being In Love – The set closer is filled with bubbly, luscious scatting!  There’s tasty brushwork from David Zwolinski and upbeat, swinging harmony from alto saxophonist Sam Corey. 

 If your tastes run to tried and true singers with a solid swing feel such as Ernestine Anderson, Anita O’Day, Lorez Alexandria, Chris Connor, Dakota Staton, and June Christy, you’ve found their successor in Olivia Van Goor.  May you never be mad at Olivia Van Goor.  May she find a place in your heart.

-Linda Yohn hosts the "Swing Set" on 90.9, WRCJ-FM in Detroit and is a jazz activist with the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association and Vincent York's Jazzistry.

OLIVIA VAN GOOR / ""When The Shadows Fall” (OVNCD) 2021

As promising a young jazz vocalist as we might have heard in recent years, she stands tall in her prowess as a singer, interpreter, scatter, and torch singing sweetheart. Her choice of material, interaction with her musicians especially pianist William Bennett, dedication to tradition and nod to her predecessors bodes well for her bright professional future. Blazing a trail from legends to local heroines like Betty Carter, Barbara Ware and Ursula Walker up to peer Emma Aboukasm, this five song EP only scratches the surface to her enormous potential. With hints of Anita O'Day, shadowing June Christy and Chris Connor, while buoyed on her own bravado or subtle romanticism, Olivia Van Goor at this point in her young career is certainly poised as the real deal.

Michael G. Nastos; Paradiso Dei Musicisti V.P., Hot House Magazine/NYC, WCBN 88.3 FM/wcbn.org, emeritus Michigan Jazz Festival BOD and SEMJA V.P., SEMJA Update contributor, and former columnist/contributor for Down Beat, Cadence, Coda, Jazz Journal International Magazines, Health Care News, The Alchemist, the Ann Arbor News and Detroit Free Press.

Radio Play & Spotify features

WRCJ-FM Detroit, “Swing Set” Hosted by Linda Yohn

WEMU Ypsilanti Jazz Radio Hosted by Michael Jewett

Spotify Official Playlists “Jazz X-Press” “Vocal Jazz”, and “Swinging Singing”

WOOC Troy, NY “Jazz Sanctuary” Hosted by Susan Brink

Olivia Van Goor is an award-winning jazz vocalist based in Detroit, recently recognized with Best Jazz Album and Best Jazz Single/Performance at the 2025 Michigan Music Awards. Known for her rich, expressive sound, she’s released two EPs blending originals and jazz standards, and has toured throughout the Midwest. Olivia has performed with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and continues to captivate audiences in settings ranging from intimate jazz clubs to large concert halls as she carves her path in the contemporary jazz scene.