Nicole Zuraitis Quartet

Two-time Grammy winner Nicole Zuraitis brings her genre-defying approach to vocal jazz to Kuumbwa as she leads her quartet through an evening of original compositions, jazz standards, and inventive pop covers. Winner of the 2024 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album for How Love Begins — which she wrote and arranged entirely herself — Zuraitis is known for bridging tradition and innovation, blending jazz with soul, pop, and singer-songwriter influences.

Zuraitis performs on both vocals and piano, backed by her longtime quartet featuring guitarist Idan Morim, bassist Samuel Weber, and drummer Dan Pugach. Her recent live album Live at Vic's captures the energy of her performances: powerful vocals that can soar into operatic territory, playful scatting, and sophisticated arrangements that give space for extended improvisations. Reviews describe her as having "amazing vocal phrasing" and a "voice full of power and warmth" that makes even melancholic songs feel uplifting.

Expect to hear material from her Grammy-winning album alongside creative interpretations of songs like Dolly Parton's "Jolene" (which she transforms into a dramatic, slowed-down showcase) and Stevie Nicks' "Rhiannon." Her originals like "Middle C" blend old-school jazz with contemporary lyrics, while her arrangements of standards like "The Nearness of You" inject swing into traditionally tender ballads. As one reviewer noted, "She finds a way to make Blues not so blue" and creates "a unique type of experience for the jazz connoisseur."

A faculty member at NYU and winner of the 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition gold medal, Zuraitis brings both technical prowess and an engaging, relatable stage presence. Her performances are described as having audiences "hypnotized" and feeling like they're "being with a friend" — making for an intimate yet powerful evening at Kuumbwa's listening room.