was named a Vocal Talent Deserving Wider Recognition by Downbeat Magazine and has been recognized by Billboard Magazine for distinguished achievement as a lyricist. The media has praised her placing her in the company of some of our finest known jazz vocalists including Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan. She has 2 recordings, has led bands at several women’s jazz festivals and collaborated with her husband pianist/composer Steve Colson, bringing their groups to festivals and concerts in the U.S., Europe, Egypt and Israel. She has shared the stage with many great artists.
Iqua has initiated and/or produced jazz concerts, festivals and arts education projects in Chicago, New York City, and the Essex County area of New Jersey. She has been the architect of several projects working with such organizations as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Symphony Space, The City of Newark, The Chicago Cultural Council, Columbia University, The Jazz Institute of Chicago, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Great Hall at Cooper Union, The Montclair Art Museum, and The New Jersey Chamber Music Society. Iqua served on The Board of Directors of The Newark Arts Council from 2001-2004. She is currently Vice Chair of The Montclair Arts Council.
Born and raised in Chicago, Iqua entered Northwestern University School of Music after three years at Kenwood High school. She later transferred to Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University where she completed her undergraduate Music Degree. She served as a member of The Board of Directors of The Jazz Institute of Chicago during which time many successful initiatives were implemented that focused on presenting jazz to large and diverse audiences including the popular annual Chicago Jazz Festival. .She was a founding member of FEPA, producers of Chicago’s internationally acclaimed “Underground Fest” and the “Blacklight Film Festival.”
Iqua became a Music Team Leader in East Orange, New Jersey’s Elementary Music Unique School of Choice, Washington Academy of Music, at the school’s inception in 1994. An impressive and challenging music curriculum was developed at Washington helping to bring national recognition and awards to the school and the district. She then worked for 5 years as the coordinator of arts programs for the East Orange School district focusing on curriculum development and special projects in the arts that benefited students in all of the schools and assisted in particular award winning efforts in the 5 schools that had the arts as central to their theme. Iqua was also a member of The State of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Committee for the Arts. She has a Masters of Public Administration/Arts Administration from Seton Hall University and is currently consulting on several projects in arts education and the use of the arts as a catalyst for change. These projects include everything from city and building design and planning to curriculum.
When they left Chicago in 1982 Iqua and her husband, noted pianist and composer Steve Colson, moved to Montclair, New Jersey, a town 12 miles west of Manhattan. They have two sons. Iqua works closely with her husband Steve Colson fusing her lyrics with his music for an exciting end result. Her ideas are creative and fresh and lend much to the sound of today’s progressive music, whether expressed through her original lyrics, standard tunes, or superb vocal improvisation. Her latest CD “Hope for Love” done in partnership with Steve was released in May 2004.
