Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Grzanna.
Hi Suzanne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My musical journey began at the age of five, growing up in a musical family. My parents, Don and Maureen Grzanna, are both professional musicians, so music was always being performed in our home. I would attend their concerts, watch them work, and see firsthand the dedication and discipline it takes to build a life in music. My mother taught me piano, and I practiced every day. Looking back, their work ethic had an enormous influence on the person and musician I would become. I am incredibly grateful to them because, without their example and support, I would not be where I am today.
I began studying piano and accordion at five and performing with my family band by the third grade. I played piano and sang throughout the Milwaukee area and began competing in National Guild Piano Competitions, where I received several awards. As I grew older, I added clarinet, saxophone, voice, choir, and jazz to my studies. In high school, I performed in concert, marching, and jazz bands, choir, and swing choir, earned numerous first-place awards in solo competitions, and received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award as a senior.
My education gave me an incredibly broad musical foundation. I studied music at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Carroll University, focusing on voice and saxophone while also earning a background in business and communications. I studied classical voice and saxophone and became a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus at eighteen, performing major classical works at venues including Symphony Center in Chicago, Ravinia, Summerfest, and the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Eventually, jazz became my passion. I continued my studies with musicians including David Hazeltine, Jackie Allen, Bill Stone, Berkeley Fudge, Charles McPherson, and Eric Marienthal. Jackie Allen had a particularly strong influence on my vocal style. I also formed my own jazz quartet, which led to one of the most meaningful relationships in my musical life: meeting legendary saxophonist Frank Morgan. I interviewed him on WYMS, and what began as an interview developed into a lasting friendship and mentorship. He invited me to private recording sessions in New York, giving me an extraordinary behind-the-scenes experience with some of the great musicians of jazz.
Along the way, I became an educator, earning certifications in choir, band, and general music and teaching in California, Milwaukee, and at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Teaching reinforced my belief that music is something to be shared and passed on.
Today, as Suzanne Grzanna, and professionally known as Sax Diva®, I have brought all of those experiences together as a recording artist, vocalist, saxophonist, composer, producer, and music entrepreneur. My classical training, jazz education, years of performing, teaching, and mentorship all continue to influence the music I create today.
When I look back, my story really begins with my parents. They gave me my first instrument, my first musical experiences, and, most importantly, an example of what it means to work hard for something you love. I have spent my life building on that foundation, and my goal today is to continue creating music that connects with people and inspires others the way music inspired me as a child.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges as an independent artist is finding enough time to fulfill all of the responsibilities that come with building a music career. There is so much more involved than simply creating and performing music. I have to balance practicing, recording, songwriting, touring, releasing new music, promoting my work, managing my career, understanding contracts, and learning the business side of the industry.
As musicians, we can also be perfectionists. We may spend an entire day practicing or working on a recording because we want every detail to be the best it can be. Then there is an entirely different side of the career that requires just as much attention as the marketing, promotion, administration, contracts, and business decisions.
Learning how to balance the creative and business sides of being an independent artist has been one of my biggest lessons. I’ve learned that I can’t do everything at once, and trying to do so can quickly become overwhelming. Instead, I’ve decided to take things “one day at a time”. I prioritize what needs my attention most, make time for both my creativity and the business of music, and keep moving forward.
It isn’t always easy, but taking things one day at a time helps me stay focused, appreciate the progress I’m making, and continue moving toward my goals without losing sight of why I started making music in the first place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work as an independent artist encompasses much more than performing. I am a “recording artist, vocalist, alto saxophonist, songwriter, arranger, producer, music publisher, and entrepreneur”, and I have built my career independently through my label, Diva Records LLC. I am best known as Sax Diva®, a name that came from my early touring years when people had difficulty pronouncing my last name. What started as a nickname eventually became my identity as an artist.
I released my first album, “The Cat’s Meow*, in 1994 and began touring nationally and internationally, performing both saxophone and vocals in cities including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, New York City, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Paris, and many others. Since then, I have continued building an extensive independent catalog that includes albums such as *Fly Me to the Moon*, *My Santa Baby*, *Simply Sunday*, *Christmas Night*, *Daybreak*, *The Cat’s Meow Anniversary Album*, *The Cat’s Meow Anniversary Album Saxophone Instrumentals*, and *Cat’s Meow XO*, along with numerous original singles.
My specialty is contemporary jazz, particularly the combination of “expressive alto saxophone and vocals”, but I have never wanted to limit myself to one genre. I also have a strong love for dance music. Hearing remixed versions of Ella Fitzgerald’s music in clubs inspired me to explore how jazz could connect with modern dance production. That eventually led to collaborations with Billboard-charting artist Kim Cameron and releases that bridge jazz, pop, and dance music.
One thing that sets me apart is the combination of my classical training, jazz background, vocal abilities, saxophone playing, songwriting, and willingness to explore different genres. I don’t see myself as only a saxophonist or only a vocalist. I enjoy bringing all of those elements together and continuing to experiment with new sounds and collaborations.
I am especially proud of the fact that I have remained an independent artist throughout my career while continuing to create, release, promote, and build my own music business. I have released a large catalog of music through my own independent label, and my work has reached audiences through recordings, live performances, film, television, radio, and international collaborations.
My recent work includes *Cat’s Meow XO*, a contemporary jazz album featuring both my vocals and saxophone and released in Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. My single “Sunset Dreams”, released July 3, 2026, premiered during performances at Summerfest and Boston Jazz Festival reaching #1 on the iTunes chart, adding another milestone to my career. Other highlights include my earlier #1 iTunes jazz success with “Midnight Blue”, “Spring Waltz” and collaborations with artists such as Kim Cameron and Julyo.
I am also proud of the recognition my music has received, including a Hollywood Music in Media Award, Global Music Award, Indie Music Channel Awards for Best Jazz Instrumentalist and Best Jazz Song, and a Radio Music Award for Best Jazz Artist, along with additional award nominations and honors.
Beyond my own music, I am passionate about creating opportunities for other people in the music industry. I founded “Music Fuze”, which brings together musicians, filmmakers, music supervisors, and entertainment professionals through networking, showcases, and educational opportunities. I also work in music publishing and sync licensing.
What I am most proud of, however, is the longevity of the journey. I started playing music as a five-year-old because I loved it, and decades later I am still learning, recording, performing, collaborating, and creating. I have been able to turn that childhood passion into a lifelong career while remaining true to who I am as a musician.
I think what ultimately sets me apart is that I am not afraid to evolve. I can move from a jazz standard to an original contemporary jazz composition, from an expressive saxophone performance to vocals, and from a jazz recording into a dance collaboration. Sax Diva® represents that versatility, but at the heart of everything I do is the same thing that started my journey: a genuine love for music and a desire to share it with others.**
What’s next?
I’m very excited about what the future holds and feel like I’m entering a particularly creative and productive chapter in my career. I recently released my new contemporary jazz single, “Sunset Dreams,” and I’ll be traveling to Los Angeles to film the music video. I’m looking forward to bringing the song to life visually and creating something that captures its emotion, energy, and dreamlike quality.
The coming year is already filled with new music, collaborations, and creative projects. I love collaborating with other artists because every project allows me to explore a different side of my musicianship, whether I’m performing saxophone, singing, songwriting, or contributing to the production.
Some of the projects I’m currently involved with include “Who Drew That? Barbara’s Color Splash Day,” a 2026 project with Kim Cameron and Michelle Jones; Miami Listening Party Season 2, with my original song Moonsands; and the Blues Way album, “There Before Sundown,” with Mehran Matin, Julyo, and SF1.
On “Before You Accuse Me” with Oliver Sean, I am playing saxophone. I’m also looking forward to working on a gospel song with John Ludwig, as well as the Seaper Powers movie “Something Better”, where I’m collaborating with Mason Mazziotti.
Another project I’m looking forward to is working with Linda Marks, playing saxophone on one of her upcoming tracks. Collaborations like these are especially meaningful to me because I enjoy bringing my saxophone into different artists’ musical worlds and finding ways to make the instrument complement their unique sound.
In addition to these projects, I have more original music and collaborations in development for the coming year. I’ll continue exploring contemporary jazz, vocals, saxophone, dance, and crossover music while also developing my work in production, publishing, sync licensing, and Music Fuze.
There are several additional projects I’m developing that I’m not quite ready to announce yet, which makes this next chapter especially exciting. After so many years in music, I’m still inspired by the creative process and by the opportunity to work with talented people from different musical backgrounds.
My goal is to continue evolving as an artist while staying true to what has always motivated me: creating music that connects with people. I’m looking forward to recording new music, collaborating with other artists, filming new visual projects, performing for audiences, and continuing to see where this journey takes me.
I feel like there are always new songs to write, new artists to collaborate with, and new possibilities ahead and I’m genuinely excited for what’s next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saxdiva.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannegrzanna/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzannegrzannaband/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannegrzanna/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/suzannegrzanna
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Suzannegrzanna
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/suzannegrzanna
- Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Grzanna
