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Ella Gahnt

About Me

My Jazz Story

I always like to say jazz chose me as opposed to my choosing jazz. I think over the years I’ve been influenced by many singers and musicians–practically every one I’ve ever heard, but I have always leaned toward the music of Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, and Billie Holiday. Those singers paved the way and created such an amazing vocal legacy. I sang R&B years ago with other groups as well as our own group that we had together for a time, but I sing jazz because it’s the music I’m best at. It’s the music that more defines my style than anything else I’ve sung, it’s also the music that makes me the happiest and allows me to tell clear stories when I sing. I believe that’s my most important job as a singer–to tell a great musical story that folks can feel and relate to….and hopefully remember how I told it.