ABOUT
"In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance." —JazzTimes
Celebrated for her sophisticated and heartfelt interpretations, vocalist Clairdee brings a unique blend of elegance and warmth to the stage. Rooted in the rich tradition of jazz, she draws inspiration from iconic figures such as Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae, yet her style remains distinctly her own.
Her career highlights include collaborations with renowned musicians like Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Russell Malone, and Ken Peplowski, and performances at prestigious venues such as Dizzy's NYC and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Clairdee's voice is characterized by its velvety timber and dynamic range, allowing her to convey a wide spectrum of emotions with grace and authenticity. Beyond her captivating performances, she is also a dedicated educator, passionate about preserving the legacy of jazz and mentoring the next generation of musicians.
Equally at home singing various idioms in an array of settings, Clairdee leads her own world-class band and appears with symphony orchestras and big bands.
Clairdee’s discography as leader includes four highly regarded albums on her Declare Music label. “A Love Letter to Lena,” garnered international press and was acknowledged in three categories in the 2020 Grammy® first round nominations. She is a recipient of the Bay Area Jazz & Blues Artist Lifetime Achievement Award.
My purpose is to engage, uplift and build community through music — creating narrative that inspires beyond the stage.
Quotes
“In the tradition of all great vocalists, Clairdee infuses each song with her own unique style while always remaining true to the song itself.”
— Nancy Wilson
"Sumptuous, elegantly restrained."
— The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland)
"Generous spirit and unpretentious sincerity"
— Down Beat
"Clairdee projects an unmistakable aura onstage — regaling the audience with songs interwoven with warm, humorous anecdotes — creating a seamless, wonderful tapestry."
—All About Jazz
“In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance."
—JazzTimes
News
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Gallery
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
Congrats from Miss Nancy Wilson
Billy Higgins: Mentor and friend. HUGE heart, generous spirit.
Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli
Dee Dee Bridgewater, shares life lessons and other great stories.
Charles McPherson, saxophonist
Russell Malone & Houston Person
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
Regina Carter and legendary Roy McCurdy
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!
Johnny O'Neal, pianist
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.
Dr. Kim Nalley, singer
Carmen Bradford, vocalist
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
Monty Alexander (left), Ken French (right)
L Peter Callender, actor, director
Armistead Maupin, writer
Rehearsal with Dick Hyman
Houston Person, soulful sax man
Maestro Yaacov Bergman
Jamie Davis, vocalist
Tammi Brown, vocalist
Billy Valentine, vocalist