Raves
"Over a century after the birth of Lena Horne, how gratifying to see her legacy perpetuated with as much musicality, originality, heart, and fighting spirit as Clairdee shows on this album."
—James Gavin, author, Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne.
“An exquisite collection of songs paying homage to the late Lena Horne, adorned with sincerity, musical artistry, and heartfelt emotion in every soulful note. Where unity, solidarity and strength is needed across the peoples of today, this album offers a snapshot of the resilience that came before us and the convictions that can help us move forward together.”
—Pop Magazine (Berlin)
"'A Love Letter to Lena' isn’t merely a tribute to an artist from our past. It’s a statement about giving voice to what’s desperately needed in the present.”
—All About Jazz
“'A Love Letter to Lena" is a powerful call to action from the singer and her wide-ranging band.”
—Jazz Notes
“Clairdee delivers an intriguing tribute to icon Lena Horne… This album makes you yearn for a movie to accompany the story and songs.”
—Jazz Weekly
“Immaculately performed tribute to a multi-talented civil rights icon.”
—Mojo Magazine (London)
A 21st Century Jazz Vocalist
Soulful, swinging, and stylish, the music of San Francisco-based jazz singer Clairdee epitomizes jazz’s empowering imperative. More than a masterly interpreter of lyrics with a lustrous, velvety tone, she embodies the tradition’s twinned legacy of standing for social justice with glamor and guts. Deeply informed by the music’s departed masters, Clairdee puts a personal stamp on whatever she sings, a gift aptly described by the inimitable Nancy Wilson. “In the tradition of all great vocalists,” Wilson said of Clairdee, “she infuses each song with her own unique style while always remaining true to the song itself.”
She covers a lot of stylistic ground on her latest project, which celebrates the iconic star Lena Horne, one of the 20th century’s most consequent performers. Released in the winter of 2020, her critically hailed album A Love Letter to Lena is a deeply personal tribute to the barrier-shattering African-American actress, singer, nightclub entertainer, World War II pin-up, and civil rights activist who died in 2010 at the age of 92.
“She meant so much to me in so many different ways,” Clairdee says. “The example she set, the role model that she was for many African Americans was very powerful. I learned a lot about what I do and how I present myself on stage just by watching her. She was always dressed impeccably, completely professional, despite all the discrimination and mistreatment.”
A 2018 recipient of the Bay Area Jazz and Blues Artist Lifetime Achievement Award, Clairdee has a long track record as a passionate advocate for music education. She is a collegiate professor of Jazz Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and has taught at the University of California Berkeley Jazz Department, and Diablo Valley College.
Since moving to the Bay Area in 1986, she’s performed almost every style of music, from R&B and cabaret to country and soul. But in the mid-90s she decided to focus on jazz, honing a singular sound while working with jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Eddie Henderson, saxophonist John Handy and pianist Roland Hanna. She gained national attention when legendary bassist, manager and NEA Jazz Master John Levy built a show around her and guitarist/vocalist Henry Johnson. Whether she’s celebrating Lena Horne or delivering a carefully honed program of standards, her aim in the same. “My mission,” Clairdee says, “is to engage, uplift and build community through music —creating narrative that inspires beyond the stage.”
Inspirations
John Levy: Mentor, manager, friend, and gentleman of the highest order.
Legendary songstylist Nancy Wilson: Mentor and role model after our 1-on-1 interview at Monterey Jazz Festival
Billy Higgins: Mentor and friend. HUGE heart, generous spirit.
Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli
Dee Dee Bridgewater, shares life lessons and other great stories.
Singers Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., & Nicole Henry
Jamie Foxx, actor, singer, comedian
Kids: I LOVE working with kids!
Singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs
Esperanza Spalding, bassist, composer, educator
Regina Carter, violinist, MacArthur Fellow
Gerald Clayton, composer, pianist, bandleader
Patti Austin, singer
Marian McPartland, pianist, composer, radio host
Norman Simmons, Paul West, Bernard Purdie. Learning from the masters.
Freda Payne, singer
Arsenio Hall, comedian, actor
Terence Blanchard, trumpeter, composer, educator
Dianne Reeves, singer and excellent cook. We're both from Denver!
Ken Peplowski, clarinetist, bandleader, funny man!
Ruth Davies: Talented bassist and best friend
Earl Klugh, guitarist, songwriter
Valerie Noble, celebrity hair and make-up artist
James Ingram, singer, composer, pianist
Amina Figarova, pianist, composer
Henry Johnson, guitarist-singer
Ivan Lins, singer, pianist, composer
Nnenna Freelon, vocalist, songwriter, playwright
Richard Bona, bassist, singer, composer.
Rebecca Parris, singer
Sheila Jordan, vocalist and fellow Scorpio!
Dr. Herb Wong: Mentor, friend; nonpareil jazz historian and producer.
Dena DeRose, pianist and vocalist.
Taylor Eigsti, pianist, composer
Paula West, singer
Trombone Shorty, multi-instrumentalist, energetic entertainer
Todd Gordon, UK-based crooner
Herlin Riley: Drumming never sounded SO good.
Charles Brown, singer-pianist, sharing stories in Mexico.
Bud Spangler: Producer, drummer, radio personality
Benny Green, pianist
Paulette McWilliams, singer-songwriter
Jay Leonhart, bassist and humorist
Denise Perrier, singer
Bill Strickland, ceramicist, community leader, author, and CEO of the non-profit Manchester Bidwell Corporation.
Kim Nalley, singer
Dana Goia, poet and writer, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Gil Gross, journalist & radio personality
Allen Farnham, pianist (left), and reed man Charles McNeal
Broadway star Barbara Cook and pianist Ted Rosenthal
Dan Ouellette, noted music journalist and biographer
Dmitri Matheny, flugelhornist, composer
A Scott Galloway, noted music journalist
Bill Charlap, pianist
L Peter Callender, actor, director
Armistead Maupin, writer
Rehearsal with Dick Hyman
Houston Person, soulful sax man
Maestro Yaacov Bergman
Regina Carter and legendary Roy McCurdy
Monty Alexander (left), pianist; Ken French, (right) pianist
Billy Valentine, R&B vocalist