Results for "female composer"

Martina Lupi

Martina Lupi is more than just a voice: she is a seeker of invisible frequencies, an artist who has successfully carried the ritual power of ancestral instruments into the sophisticated textures of contemporary songwriting.

After years of experimentation with the Tupa Ruja ensemble, where the didgeridoo and harmonic singing became instruments of pure narration, Martina now arrives at her long awaited solo debut: "Dannate Salvatrici" (Damned Saviours), (Filibusta Records). 

This album marks the birth of a new singer-songwriter persona, where the word becomes flesh and the sound becomes archetype. At the heart of the project resonates the "Sound of Distance," an aesthetic and philosophical concept that Martina explores alongside the pianistic sensitivity of Alessandro Gwis. Here, distance is not absence, but a vibrant territory of anticipation, a fertile void where the piano, electronics, and Martina’s world instruments engage in a dialogue to evoke what is distant, yet profoundly present. 

Chiara Izzi

Born: May 22

Based in New York City since 2014, Chiara Izzi is an award-winning jazz singer and composer from Italy who has captivated audiences worldwide. Her breakthrough came when she won first prize at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition, a victory personally awarded by the legendary Quincy Jones, who chaired the jury. The following year, Chiara returned to the festival to perform and open for the iconic Paco de Lucía. She has since earned numerous accolades, including an Independent Music Award for Best Jazz Song with Vocals for her composition "Circles of the Mind," as well as national honors such as Lucca Jazz Donna, third place in the Chicco Bettinardi soloist category, and recognition in the Barga Jazz group category.

Leïla Olivesi

Leïla Olivesi is a French female pianist and composer based in Paris.

Winner of the Best of Jazz 2025 : "Best musician of the year" and "Best conductor of the year", by JazzMagazine and JazzNews.

Winner of the Django Reinhardt Prize by the Académie du Jazz 2022: Best French Musician of the year.

She is PhD in musicology at the Sorbonne University and MA graduate in philosophy at the Sorbonne.

In 2013, she received the Ellington Composers first prize, the international big band composing competition. She was commissioned for "Rhapsody in Black" by the mixed choir Choeur Philharmonique intertnational, Unesco Artist for Peace (2025), le "Tour du monde en 80 lunes" for the Choir VOCO (département des Hauts de Seine) for 500 teens singers (2025), and the "Suite Andamane" for symphonic orchestra, jazz big band and mixed choir (2016).

Deborah Henson-Conant

Born: November 11, 1953

Grammy-nominated electric harpist, singer, composer, innovator and educator Deborah Henson-Conant (known to many as DHC) has mesmerized audiences throughout the US and Europe for the past three decades. Shattering every harp stereotype with her electrifying performances, she’s known for her on-stage image, her humor, passion and innovation, wearing the electric body-harp she designed. Whether commanding concert halls or intimate salons across the U.S. and Europe, she transforms the harp into an instrument of limitless expression—blending blues, flamenco, Latin, and classical influences with her powerful vocals and storytelling flair. 

Sophie Hassfurther

A compelling and adventurous voice in contemporary European jazz and improvised music, Austrian saxophonist Sophie Hassfurther blends deep compositional insight with fearless improvisation. Born near Salzburg in, Hassfurther studied saxophone and flute at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She further expanded her artistic horizons through her involvement in New York’s vibrant music scene. 

Hassfurther’s work is characterised by its wide stylistic reach, bridging jazz, contemporary classical sensibilities, and free improvisation. As a bandleader and composer, she has developed a rich body of original music, from her early ensemble projects to recent large-scale works that situate improvised interplay alongside structured compositional frameworks. Her music has been featured at major festivals and venues across Europe and beyond, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazzfestival Saalfelden, Wien Modern, and Moers Festival. 

Kymberlee O'Brien

Born: February 17

Kymberlee O'Brien is a multifaceted artist blending the rich nuances of Jazz, Latin, pop, and R&B with a soulful, powerful voice that tells stories of resilience, love, and self-discovery. An award-winning singer, songwriter, and choreographer, Kymberlee brings an undeniable warmth and authenticity to her music. She draws on her experiences and influences to create a sound that resonates deeply with her audience, combining her training in musical theatre, dance, and world percussion to create unforgettable live performances and recordings. Her dedication to her craft and her love for storytelling make her a unique voice in today’s music scene.

Hillai Govreen

Hillai Govreen is a clarinetist, saxophonist and composer based in New York. Hillai’s upcoming album Every Other Now is a collaboration with bassist/composer Ben Meigners, and features some notable names of the NY music scene such as Steve Cardenas (guitar), Eric McPherson (drums), Café Da Silva (percussion) among others. The album is set to be released in August 2025 under the Fresh Sound label.

Her previous album “Allusions” (2021) is a duet with pianist Nitsan Kolko. Their duet feature spontaneous musical dialogue and alludes to various ancient fables. In addition, Hillai arranged music for a nonet consisting of strings and woodwinds.  

Holli Scott

Jenny Maybee

Jenny Maybee is “equally talented as a vocalist and pianist.” Her “piano playing and vocals…are altogether eloquent and heart-stopping…her voicing is expertly balanced…and her phrasing sings wonderfully throughout the repertoire.” Her vocals have been described as “exquisite,” “hauntingly beautiful,” and “in the same league” with Billie Holiday—music that “you could close your eyes to and nod out blissfully in a deep groove…”

Her piano style has been compared to Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, and Cecil Taylor. Jenny “make(s) beautiful music expressing the sheer joy of being alive. You sense it in the augmented chords that Maybee plays on her piano, then leaping like a mad gazelle to catch its essence with her voice.” As a classically trained jazz pianist and vocalist, Jenny’s “unique style seems fairly sedate on the surface, but is capable of sudden intensity whenever the music demands.” This mixture of sensitivity and boldness weaves through her original compositions and interpretations of jazz standards.

Denise Mangiardi