Home » Member Page

Cynthia Holiday

Cynthia Holiday, Jazz Song Stylist

About Me

An exciting singer who always gets a strong reaction from her audience, Cynthia Holiday is a real crowd pleaser. Her heartfelt renditions of standards, blues and ballads are full of swing and soul.

Her debut release, “Cynthia Holiday…All The Way” was initially teamed with music producer, John Snyder and special guests, pianist Cedar Walton with bassist, David Williams and drummer, Joe Farnsworth. The recording received airplay on national jazz radio and cable television’s, Music Choice Singers and Swing channel. New York Trend On Line wrote “Holiday’s style is confident and classy throughout the wide spectrum of selections that include such familiar classics as “I Thought About You” and “More Today Than Yesterday.” Cynthia Holiday grew up in Newark, NJ and developed a love for jazz from her stepfather, Calvin Hughes, a popular trumpet player and bandleader who played with Count Basie, Frank Foster, Clark Terry and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. After graduating from Montclair State College, Cynthia’s talents extended to that of spokesperson for a major beverage corporation and appeared in “Ebony” and “O” magazines as a “Beauty & Style” model. But, singing was always her first love.

Since her debut release, Cynthia has been busy performing locally and internationally. Most recently, she performed a 6-city tour throughout the Siberian region of Russia. Locally, she sings in clubs and festivals including The Hartford Jazz Festival, Birdland Jazz & Supper Club and Washington DC’s “Blues Alley.” Uptown, she is one of Harlems’s favorite singers performing for major organizations like Jazzmobile and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce at historic jazz clubs like Showmans and The Lenox Lounge. Sheila E. Anderson, Late Night Host, WBGO JAZZ 88.3 FM says…“Cynthia’s time has come with this release, “Cynthia Holiday…All The Way.” She seeks to continue the tradition of jazz women who sing the blues, a style that, in my observation, has become a lost art among vocalists. I hear the humor of Helen Humes, the soul of Ernestine Anderson, the warm timber of Mary Stallings and the storytelling of Marlena Shaw…but, make no mistake, what we hear is pure Cynthia Holiday.”

Contact Me

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it brings me great joy. I was first exposed to jazz by my step-father who was a trumpet player I met Cedar Walton during a recording session. The best show I ever attended was... The first jazz record I bought was My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.