Results for "Jazz Vocalist"

Serra Bilgincan

Born: February 10, 1998

Born in Istanbul in 1998, I attended high school at Üsküdar American Academy, and completed my undergraduate education in architecture at the University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins.

In my dissertation titled “Space and Sapiens: A Comparison of Philosophical Approaches to the New Cognitive Approaches to Space,”  I compared philosophical propositions regarding the
human-environment relationship with the findings of cognitive sciences. I explored how the combination of the two disciplines could lead to a more
human-centered design.

Since 2020, I have been working as an independent designer and artist. In my work, I follow emotionally provoked intellectual interests—ranging from the origins of life, ancient lives of Homo sapiens, evolution, and the first land settlements, to the agricultural and industrial revolutions, and the inner landscapes of modern humans. My intention is often to weave poetic dialogues between science, philosophy, anthropology.

Brenda Earle Stokes

Born: October 22, 1976

Brenda Earle Stokes is a rare jazz artist with a true command of both the voice and the piano.  Hailed as “a breezy delight” by Time Out New York, Brenda’s music is rooted in the jazz tradition with influences ranging from Brazilian music to music theater and rock radio.

As a bandleader she has toured clubs and festivals across the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and has released 6 albums own her own label.  Widely considered to be one of the top singer/pianists in the field, Stokes is back with her first album of completely original songs.

In her latest album Motherhood, Brenda shares the journey of motherhood with songs exploring identity, fear, expectations, body image, friendship and growth.  Rooted in her native language of jazz, Stokes drew additional inspiration from singer-songwriters, music theater, spoken word and 1960s protest songs.  Each song is richly orchestrated by a four-piece ensemble jazz ensemble which provides an energetic backdrop for Stokes’ material which is at once honest, thought provoking and laced with humor.

Christine Xu

Christine Xu  (徐晨曦)  

Christine Xu is a Beijing based Jazz Vocal/Composer/Educator

Christine Xu received a bachelor’s in Music Education from ZheJiang Conservatory Of Music. After graduation, she studied artistic director in Berlin, Germany.

In 2021, Christine received a master degree in Jazz Studies (Vocal) from Queens College, CUNY, studied under Jazz musicians Chareneè Wade, David Berkman, Jeb Patton, Dennis Mackrel, Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman, Aubrey Johnson.

Christine’s latest work,“Seek and Find” released June.21.2024, is her debut modern Jazz album, which collected her 10 original compositions. The album was recorded at 55Tec in Beijing by Christine with guitarist Zeran (Chris) Chen, bassist Wenjun (Vino) Wu and drummer Yongheng (Bei Bei) Wu. The album was mixed and mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording in NYC, USA.

Hyeonseon Baek

Born: December 30, 1991

Hyeonseon Baek is A New York-based Jazz vocalist/songwriter from South Korea who focuses on striving to create music that transcends cultural and generational boundaries, blending traditional Jazz with a modern approach for our diverse and vibrant audience. At the age of 8, he discovered his love for music when he sang in the school choir group. Hyeonseon was obsessed with soul and rhythm and blues musicians like Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Ledisi, Aretha Franklin, and countless pop musicians. After some years, he listened to some jazz recordings by Mel Torme and Mark Carmen McRae one day and was immediately fascinated by jazz. Most of the sounds from those recordings were so new to him and made him curious about jazz music. He wanted to find out what they were doing and why it was too good for him.

Ineke Vandoorn

‘The adventurer among jazz singers’ (De Volkskrant). Dutch Grammy winner Ineke Vandoorn still lives up to this description. This time in an exciting duo with pianist and multiple award-winner Jasper van ‘t Hof. Both are known for their longstanding careers wherein they each developed their own inimitable styles. An unlikely but unique duo that offers a new perspective on the traditional ‘singer and pianist’ combination.

Together they surprise us with a delicate dance of an expressive voice, with seemingly unlimited potential and warmth, and ten virtuosic, sometimes ferocious, fingers. They deliver an original and varied repertoire that combines intricately intertwined melodies with an Indian raga, a Paul Simon song, and dazzling improvisations. Musical conversations that evoke artists as disparate as Betty Carter, Joni Mitchell, Norma Winstone and Flora Purim.

Henk Kraaijeveld

In the land of European jazz vocalists, Henk Kraaijeveld occupies a unique place somewhere between the known and the unknown. He is one of the rare male vocalists that seek musical adventure, bringing together compelling music with poetic lyrics and surprising improvisations. The award-winning singer disarms his audience with his warm voice and natural playfulness on stage. To Kraaijeveld, the storytelling character of music is essential, because of its power to connect people with themselves and the world around them. “I’m fascinated about our human need to show vulnerability and our longing to be loved as authentic beings with all our possibilities and flaws. I see that reflected in many (current) social developments. In my music and lyrics I always try to relate to that. You can hear that on the new album Patches of Sky, that has just been released.”

Stephanie Porter

Born: June 1, 1974

American Jazz Vocalist, Stephanie Porter was first heard nationally in the mid-nineties, reaching the top 100 Gavin National Jazz Radio Chart.  A world class vocalist with a rare contralto range, Porter has been on a total of 14-album releases, including her latest, “Radio Theatre”, where she penned seven original tracks. An album featuring multi-platinum trumpeter, Steve Madaio.  

Stephanie has shared stages with original jazz greats Ernestine Anderson, Buddy Catlet, Bob Hammer, Jack Percival and Red Kelly, to name a few.  She has also opened for contemporary artists, including Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan, Cameo, Kansas and more. As a special guest, Porter has worked with The Tacoma Symphony under the direction of both Harvey Felder and Sarah Ionnides, The Harry James Orchestra, The Radio Rhythm Orchestra,  The Full Circle Jazz Orchestra, SRJO and Roadside Attraction.  As a background vocalist, she has performed with The Steve Miller Band in concert. Stephanie also toured with Hit Explosion during the 1990's, a very popular dance band, booked regularly at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, The Seattle ShowBox, Fenix Underground, Kingdome and Key Arena.   

Bidi Dworkin

Born: November 21, 1962

Bidi Dworkin is a jazz-folk vocalist whose earliest performances were as a folk singer in coffee houses throughout New England. Intrigued by the dynamic interplay of technique and freedom which exists at the core of modern dance, she attended NYU and received her master’s degree in Dance Education, performing professionally with the Nancy Meehan Dance Company from 1980-1986.

After moving to a quiet valley in rural Vermont, she continued her movement studies, becoming a yoga instructor. Bidi has received advanced certification in New York City and India, skillfully leading classes and retreats since 1993. Especially moved by devotional song, Bidi embraces ancient Sanskrit chants as well as Hebrew melodies, and has led her community in the High Holiday morning services for over twenty-five years.

Vanessa Vacanti

Born: November 10, 1999

Vanessa Vacanti is a fresh new face on the jazz scene. A recent grad of SUNY Fredonia, (BFA/Musical Theatre) her vocal talents are quickly becoming recognized by musician’s and audiences alike.  She has recently become local to Buffalo, NY, but previously has worked in the Syracuse area.  She has been mainstay in the Syracuse scene with performances at Syracuse Jazz Fest, Fayetteville Jazz Fest with Ronnie Leigh, Fulton Jazz Fest, Lake Ontario Wine and Jazz Fest, the Jazz By The Lake series in Oswego as well as frequent night club performances throughout Central New York. She frequently works with The Jazz Mafia Trio, which is her first-call backing band

Jesse Palter

During the 2020 lockdown while sidelined from gigging and regular income streams, Jesse Palter was determined to stay in a positive mindset. She engaged by putting a home recording rig together so that she could record a few singles about the pandemic. Reaching out to her friend Jake Bass, they did some virtual collaborating and put the finishing touches on two of her soulful and upbeat infectious tracks, “Better Days” and “2020 Vision.”

She also realized that Nothing Standard, her swinging, soulful retrospective jazz album that was sidelined when she signed with Artistry Music/Mack Avenue, needed to come out. At the time, the label chose to launch her as a pop/rock artist. Jesse is proud of her 2019 album Paper Trail and considers it “a huge part of my musical journey.” But free now from the confines of a label machine, she reveals her innermost truths as the talented jazz vocalist and songwriter that she’s always been.