Singer • Educator • Arts Advocate

Clairdee's silky, soulful voice and scene-stealing charisma refreshes the American Songbook with state of the art arrangements that are equally smart and entertaining.

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Mission

"My mission is to engage, uplift and build community through music — creating narrative that inspires beyond the stage." —Clairdee
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Heralded for her inventive artistry and magnetic stage presence, Clairdee's lustrous voice and expressive delivery hearken back to a time when jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues often blended seamlessly together. Combining scene-stealing charisma with heartfelt humility and a sincere belief in the transformative power of music, she presents a repertoire of American Standards and blues set to state of the art arrangements that are equally smart and entertaining.

    "In the tradition of all great vocalists, Clairdee infuses her own unique style while always remaining true to the song itself." — Nancy Wilson

    "I've had an opportunity to perform several times with the remarkable Clairdee. She is a wonderful, swinging singer with whom I look forward to getting together with again and again." — Dick Hyman

    "Clairdee completely dazzled our audiences with her performances. From her remarkable band, to the classic songbook, to her absolute professionalism, everything in her show is world-class." — Woody Wilson, President, Lakeshore Music at Tempe Center for the Arts, Arizona

Clairdee's soulfully alluring vocal style has been featured in concert halls, festivals and nightclubs from Monterey, Edinburgh, Tokyo, Bangkok, Toronto, Paris, Moscow, and St. Petersburg Russia — to New York, New Hampshire, San Francisco and points in between. In addition to leading her world-class touring band, Clairdee has performed with some of America's legendary jazz artists including Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Cyrus Chestnut, and Nancy Wilson. And with her impressive ability and ease in singing a variety of musical genres, Clairdee concertizes with pops symphony orchestras and big bands and has opened for artists as diverse as David Sanborn, Johnny Mathis, and the late great Etta James.

    "Clairdee's skillful vocals and engaging stage presence charmed our multi-nation, multi-cultural audience. The sales of her recording Music Moves was the #1 selling CD among independent artists at MJF." — Tim Jackson, General Manager, Monterey Jazz Festival, California

    "Clairdee's performances here in Scotland were so well received that foremost promoters in Scotland have clamoured for her return as have the audiences."  — George Duncan, Board Member Scottish National Jazz Orchestra; Venue Manager, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland

    "Ms. Clairdee performed as special guest with our 18-piece Togliatti Philharmonic Society Jazz Orchestra with a sold-out concert (650 seats). She is a pleasure to work with in every activity and we look forward to her return." — Lidia Semenova, Director, Togliatti Philharmonic Society, Russian Federation

Clairdee's stylistically encompassing approach — which includes arranging and producing — is beautifully documented on her third album, Music Moves, recorded live in concert at the famed Yoshi's night club in Oakland, CA. Her knack for pairing songs that enhance each other is perfectly embodied in a mashup of the Joe Williams / Count Basie hit "All Right, Okay, You Win" with the lean instrumental funk of Les McCann and Eddie Harris' "Cold Duck Time." It's a fascinating counterpoint to her first release, Destination Moon, a luminous collection of beloved standards, such as "Star Eyes," and "Time After Time."

    Music Moves: "Sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form. A whole lot of interpretive brilliance going on." — Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes

    This Christmas: "One of the best Christmas albums in years. A winning blend of soul and swing that's full of interesting choices." — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News

    Destination Moon: "In an exquisite reminder that classic tunes last forever, Clairdee caresses the melodies with her gorgeous voice." — Dan Ouellette, Down Beat, San Francisco Chronicle

Clairdee is a passionate advocate for music education sharing the joy of music with audiences, aspiring professionals, and children alike. A former vocal jazz instructor at UC Berkeley's Jazz Department and Diablo Valley College, she is a teaching artist with San Francisco Symphony's Adventures in Music children's program, and a mentor and Artist Advisory Committee member of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Jazz in the Neighborhood.

    "Clairdee distinguishes herself through her standards of excellence. She knows how to connect with students and keep them engaged." — Ronald Gallman, Director of Youth Orchestra and Education Programs, San Francisco Symphony

    "The ease with which Clairdee engages audiences of all ages is remarkable. Not only does she share her passion and knowledge freely and in an accessible manner, she backs it up with a truly divine voice and superb musicianship." — Leah Wilson-Velasco, CEO, Walla Walla Symphony

    "Clairdee is a joy to work with, not only because of her many talents, but also her absolute professional conduct, flexibility, creativity and the genuine care she demonstrates in ensuring everything is of the utmost quality." — Rebeca Mauleón, Director of Education, SFJAZZ  

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Audio

Discography

CLAIRDEE MUSIC MOVES
"On the surface, these 10 tracks recorded live at Yoshi’s, show the effervescent Nancy Wilson-esque Clairdee in sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form. But dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a whole lot of interpretive brilliance going on. The piece de résistance is a vibrantly enervated six-minute voyage through Alright, Okay, You Win, reinvented as a combined salute to Count Basie, Joe Williams, Les McCann and Eddie Harris." —Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times
[listen]

CLAIRDEE THIS CHRISTMAS
"Vocalist Clairdee has come up with one of the best new Christmas albums in years, a winning blend of soul and swing that's full of interesting choices. THIS CHRISTMAS opens with a gospel version of Charles Brown's Bringing in a Brand New Year and moves to a samba-tinged Winter Wonderland and funked-up Merry Christmas, Baby. In other words, this isn't the same old holiday cheer. Put this one on your list." —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News
[listen]

CLAIRDEE DESTINATION MOON
"While in recent years new-school vocalists have opted to explore the jazz potential of new standards from the song books of pop artists, San Francisco-based singer Clairdee has chosen to stick to the basics, and in so doing, delivers an exquisite reminder that classic tunes with their timeless beauty and deep wells of emotion last forever."
—Dan Ouellette, Down Beat, San Francisco Chronicle
[listen]

Inspiration

Quotes

"Sumptuous, elegantly restrained."
—The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland)

"Generous spirit and unpretentious sincerity."
—DownBeat

"Imagination and originality."
—Mercury News

"A multidimensional and versatile talent."
—Hartford Courant

"Among the most skilled, appealing singers. Fine songs, beautiful voice, great moves."
—San Francisco Examiner

"Clairdee is the real thing. A beautiful voice, an exceptional artist."
—NPR

"A world class talent with the exceptional ability to wow an audience."
—Colorado Magazine Online

"This kind of cleverness is a rare find on any modern collection of vocal interpretations."
—All Music Guide

Venue Highlights

Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Scotland
Two 12-city concert tours, Russia
Capital Center for the Arts, NH
The Living Room, Bangkok
Staller PAC, New York
Dizzy's Coca Cola Club, NYC
Blue Note, Napa
Monterey Jazz Festival
SFJAZZ Center
Sarasota Jazz Festival
Feinstein's at the Nikko
Bijou Theater, TN
Tennesee Theater, TN
Wells Fargo PAC, Santa Rosa, CA
Toronto Convention Center, Ontario
Tempe Center for the Arts, AZ
Chandler Center for the Arts, AZ
Siletz Bay Music Festival
The Jazz Cruise
Playboy Jazz at the Rose Bowl
Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford, CA
Mendocino Music Festival
Jazz at Filoli, CA
Shedd Institute for the Arts, OR
Hult PAC, OR
3 Japan tours
All Jazz Club, Paris France

Performed with / Opened for

Dick Hyman
Nancy Wilson
Etta James
Boz Scaggs
David Sanborn
Bucky Pizzarelli
Bill Charlap
Sir Roland Hanna
Count Basie Orchestra
Wess 'Warm Daddy' Anderson
Hilton Head Symphony Pops, SC
Santa Rosa Symphony Pops, CA
Walla Walla Symphony, WA
Siletz Bay Music Festival Orchestra
Novosibirsk Symphony (Russia)
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra
Capital Jazz Orchestra
Houston Person
Wycliffe Gordon
Larry Vuckovich
Cyrus Chestnut
Russell Malone
Dave Frishberg
Allen Farnham
Gerald Clayton
Ken Peplowski
Ted Rosenthal
Randy Sandke
Terell Stafford
Chuck Redd
Frank Vignola
Dena DeRose
Howard Alden
Diane Schuur
Todd Gordon
Taylor Eigsti
Herlin Riley
Harry Allen
Shelly Berg
Byron Stripling
Jeremy Pelt
John Handy
Billy Higgins
Bill Mays
Warren Vache
Scott Hamilton
Mundell Lowe