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Nikolett Pankovits

Vocalist from Budapest, Hungary

About Me

New York based Hungarian jazz vocalist Nikolett Pankovits has forged a singular body of world music with her band, melding the traditional Hungarian songs and standards of her youth with a luscious array of Latin American rhythmic styles into a cohesive and compelling group sound. With her emphasis on communicating the universal themes of her musical roots, she created ‘Sad But True’ which has struck a balance between music and spoken word. The performance culminates with the ensemble in harmony with actor Adam Boncz's recitation of a collection of Hungarian poems in English. ‘Sad But True’ has toured in Europe and performed to sold-out audiences in New York at iconic venues such as the Blue Note, Joe’s Pub and Lincoln Center. Working closely with longtime collaborator Juancho Herrera, a string wizard and arranger from Colombia,she performed at Carnegie Hall with a barrier-breaking 18-piece ensemble showcasing Hungarian folk music with South American rhythms and jazz arrangements.

My Jazz Story

I found my voice while I was learning about jazz and listening to it. Endless discoveries are ahead of me and I love the journey.