Results for "NYC jazz singer"

Matelyn Alicia

Born: November 28

Matelyn Alicia is a seasoned jazz vocalist and award-winning theater actress whose powerful voice and magnetic stage presence have captivated audiences for over 30 years. Based in New York City, she has built a distinguished career performing in premier jazz venues, musical theater stages, and international concert halls across America & Europe.

A master storyteller through song, Matelyn blends the depth of her theatrical training with the soulful nuance of classic jazz, creating performances that are both emotionally resonant and musically rich. Her extensive repertoire honors the legacy of great jazz vocalists while infusing each performance with her unique artistry and global perspective.

Sarah James

Born: July 1

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the NY metro area, Ms. James came from a family with musical influences from her grandfather, who came from County Cork, Ireland, and played traditional Irish music on accordian and parents who were big jazz fans with an extensive record collection of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Huddie Leadbetter, Lightnin' Hopkins and Frank Sinatra recordings. Piano lessons started at 10 and as a child listening to William B. Williams and his "Make Believe Ballroom" on radio, and DJ's such as Allison Steele, "The Nightbird" and Jonathan Schwartz, the music of the big bands and the Great American Songbook informed her sensibility

Vanessa Racci

Growing up with her Southern Italian grandfather in New York, Vanessa learned Italian American classics and jazz at an early age, hearing Dean Martin, Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra and the like played throughout the house. She developed as a singer in musical theater (starring in professional theater at age 12), discovered her love for jazz in her 20’s and started touring with a trio.

After her grandfather passed, Vanessa was inspired to reinvent the Italian classics that he taught her with modern jazz arrangements to keep the music alive for future generations. She teamed up with Gianni Valenti of Birdland Jazz Club NYC, producer, David Finck, and Manhattan Transfer arranger, Yaron Gershovsky, to realize her vision. The result was a sold-out album release show at Birdland in 2017 and a unique album entitled, Italiana Fresca, that reached #65 on the jazz charts. Since then, she has performed at over 70 festivals, events and jazz clubs across the country and has been played on over 20 Italian radio stations across the US and Italy.

Bogna Kicinska

Born: July 23, 1984

Bogna Kicinska - jazz vocalist, composer and educator, originally from Poland. 

Highly regarded on the NYC jazz scene for her exceptional vocal skills, she has been part of many notable projects, including the acclaimed Joseph C. Phillips Jr.’s Numinous Ensemble (whose recording The Grey Land was named one of The 25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2020 by The New York Times), Manuel Valera’s album “Distancia”, Rafal Sarnecki’s albums “Cat’s Dream” and Climbing Trees”, Kuba Cichocki’s “Flowing Circles” (Downbeat Magazine called it a “stirring performance”), performing with John Benitez, Gene Ess, and Gabriel Guerrero. She has also collaborated with such artists as: Luis Perdomo, Manuel Valera, Silvano Monasterios, Brian Woodruff.