Lucianne Evans

Born: July 22, 1969

Lucianne Evans | Biography

Lucianne Evans is a Pittsburgh-born jazz vocalist and songwriter whose career has taken her through Montreal, New York, Asheville, and back to Pittsburgh.

In her twenties, a summer seminar in Colorado with Oregon, the recording group associated with the groundbreaking ECM label, led her to Montreal, where she appeared with her band at the early Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. There she worked with leading musicians including Sari Dajani, James Gelfand and Reg Wilson, and appeared on Canadian television. Those years helped shape a musical identity that reached beyond traditional vocal jazz.

Maria João

Born: June 27, 1956

Most singers perform a song. Maria João takes it apart, rebuilds it, and hands it back unrecognizable and unforgettable. 

A voice that improvises like breath, breaks like free jazz, and lands like home. Born in Lisbon in 1956, Maria João has spent four decades bending jazz into folk, avant-garde and electronica — from her 1983 debut Quinteto Maria João to her long-running partnership with pianist Mário Laginha, and to OGRE, her electronic project. Her most recent album, Abundância, travels between Lisbon and Maputo, produced by Luís Fernandes.  

Liz Cracchiolo

Born: July 23

Liz Cracchiolo is a jazz vocalist and storyteller whose warm, luminous voice and magnetic stage presence have made her a standout in Southern Arizona’s music scene. Known as “the Bombshell Next Door,” she brings an intimate, emotionally direct style to her performances, blending vulnerability, wit, and sophistication while drawing audiences deeply into each lyric.

Originally trained in musical theatre at the University of Arizona, Cracchiolo built a foundation onstage with roles in productions including Les Misérables, The Producers, and Mamma Mia!. She later explored cabaret through a creative partnership with Broadway performer and vocal coach Ellyn Marsh, leading to New York performances at The Duplex and Laurie Beechman Theatre. Her theatrical background continues to shape her approach to jazz, pairing a storyteller’s sensitivity to lyrics with a love of improvisation and musical conversation.

Marisa Balistreri

Born: July 26, 1972

Marisa Balistreri is a Madison, Wisconsin-based vocalist. A former professional Italian opera singer with an international career, Marisa currently collaborates with her songwriter-guitarist husband, Stefan Hall on original jazz tunes inspired by music from around the world. Marisa's group performs as a duo, trio or quartet and plays jazz standards, Latin jazz and originals in several languages. They play music to make people feel hopeful about humanity.

In the Madison Area, The Marisa Balistreri Quartet recently played at Festa Italia and for a Jazz at Five fundraiser. Additionally, The Marisa Balistreri Trio has had a months-long residency at Cafe Coda, and have played as either a duo, trio or quartet at The Cave of the Mounds, Harmony Bar and Grill, North Street Cabaret, Pyramid Event Venue and many other great venues. Marisa and Stefan have also played at the Weidner Center 6:30 Concert Series, Art Street and Blue Opus in Green Bay, DeJaVu and Gibson Music Hall in Appleton and the Bremen Cafe in Milwaukee with various jazz ensembles. The Marisa Balistreri Duo was recently featured on Channel 3000, Neon Jazz, and Live in the Lair on Max Inc, Radio

LUAH

Lebensfrohe Leichtigkeit trifft sanfte Sehnsucht: Nach „Sunlit“ und „Movimento“, ausgezeichnet mit dem Deutschen Jazzpreis 2023, veröffentlicht das Kölner Vocaltrio LUAH um Elsa Johanna Mohr nun sein drittes Album. Mit „Equilibrio“ (GLM Music) machen sich die drei Musikerinnen auf die liebevolle Suche nach Gleichgewicht und balancieren darin unterschiedlichste Stile und Stimmungen behutsam aus.

Diese Ausgewogenheit schöpft aus einer reichen Vielfalt. Neu ist dabei nicht nur ein erweitertes Instrumentarium, sondern auch die Beteiligung von Lena-Larissa Senge und Ula Martyn-Ellis am Songwriting. Dadurch entsteht ein reicher Eklektizismus, der immer wieder für musikalische Überraschungen sorgt.

Sarah Politte

Born: June 8, 2007

With a voice described as "chocolate melting," Sarah Politte breathes new life into the timeless classics of the Great American Songbook. Her artistry is deeply inspired by the mastery of Sarah Vaughan, Julie London, and Chet Baker. This two-time All-State Jazz Vocalist masterfully blends a modern charm with the technical precision and classic style of a seasoned jazz Vocalist.

Sarah is currently preparing for the September 18, 2026 release of her highly anticipated debut EP: In Wonderland. Recorded at Marigny Studios, the project was produced by Grammy-winning producer and sound engineer Justin Armstrong. 

Elizabeth Shepherd

Velvety-voiced keyboardist Elizabeth Shepherd made her international debut when her first album, "Start To Move," was voted one of the best jazz albums of 2006 by listeners of the influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio Worldwide. Since then, this soul-jazz innovator based in Montreal has established herself as one of the most captivating and imaginative artists on the scene. 

A classically trained pianist who turned to jazz through her love of old-school hip-hop, Elizabeth's style has been hailed as  "wholly unique and unclassifiable … that blurs the boundaries between jazz, R&B, pop and hip hop" (MOJO Magazine, UK). A "jazz virtuoso with a pop sensibility" (Real Detroit Weekly), she has been praised by critics worldwide for her compelling songwriting and soulful performances. Her 8 widely acclaimed albums feature collaborations with Lionel Loueke, Larnell Lewis, Jasper Hoiby, Mitsu the Beats and Nostalgia 77, and have garnered her six JUNO noimations (Canada's GRAMMY awards) and two Polaris Prize nominations (Canada's most presitiougs music prize). 

Duchess

Active since: 2014

Sure-footed swing, sweet-toned harmony, and ever-insouciant charm are embodied in the jazz vocal trio Duchess, featuring notable New York singers Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, and Melissa Stylianou. Blending the classic and the contemporary, the trio has performed at major festivals and esteemed clubs throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Israel, making it their business to connect through joy.

Duchess first convened in 2013 at Greenwich Village’s now bygone 55 Bar, with what had initially seemed like a one-off gig ending up as obvious musical kismet. The trio recorded the studio albums Duchess (2015) and Laughing at Life (2017), prompting Downbeat Magazine to declare, “For a good time, call Duchess.” Then came the EP Harmony for the Holidays (2018) and Live at the Jazz Standard (2020), the latter an atmospheric souvenir from another beloved, now-shuttered Manhattan club. Their latest album, A Marvelous Party (2026), is a shindig in song that spins the tale of a party in all its scenes and shades of feeling, from eager anticipation and dizzy elation to wistful ennui and, ultimately, warm-hearted appreciation of it all.

Sugartime Trio

Active since: 2016

Established in 2016, Sugartime Trio is a dynamic Seattle-based female jazz/pop ensemble celebrated for their tight three-part harmonies, sizzling swing, and lush ballads. Originally formed as a tribute to the The McGuire Sisters in collaboration with the Purple Phoenix Orchestra, the group quickly expanded its repertoire to include music inspired by the The Andrews Sisters, the The Boswell Sisters, along with original arrangements uniquely crafted for Sugartime Trio.

Blending timeless classics from the 1930s with contemporary favorites, the trio (Kim Maguire, Meg McLynn, & Caitlin Frances) delivers a distinctive vocal sound paired with charismatic stage presence and polished musicianship. Their remarkably unique vocal blend and vibrant performances bring both nostalgia and fresh energy to every stage they grace.

Rita Selby