Kurt Elling

Kurt Elling's Acclaimed Career

Kurt Elling is a two-time GRAMMY Award winner known for his distinctive sound and a unique body of work. With a contemporary beat and inventive vocalese-writing, the Chicago-based musician has pushed the boundaries of vocal jazz. The New York Times has called him the standout male jazz vocalist of our time, while The Guardian (UK) referred to him as a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.

Award Accomplishments

Over a career spanning twenty-five years, Elling has won numerous awards, including:

• Three Prix du Jazz Vocal (France)
• Two German Echo Awards
• Two Dutch Edison Awards

He has also been nominated for a GRAMMY Award sixteen times and has remained at the top in the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls for fourteen years. Elling has also earned twelve Jazz Journalists Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Collaborations and Performances

Elling has collaborated with leading jazz figures such as Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch, Charlie Hunter, and Stefon Harris. He has performed as a featured soloist with esteemed ensembles globally, including:

• The New York Philharmonic
• The BBC Concert Symphony
• The Count Basie Orchestra
• The WDR Big Band and Orchestra
• The Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra
• The Village Vanguard Orchestra

Multi-Disciplinary Work

In addition to composing for his own ensembles, Kurt Elling has created multi-disciplinary performances for Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater and The City of Chicago. Jazz At Lincoln Center hosted the world premiere of "The Big Blind," a new jazz musical co-written with Phil Galdston. National Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky praised Elling's work, stating that jazz voice gives new spiritual presence to the bond between poetry and music.

Global Tours and Contributions

Elling has toured internationally, including UNESCO-sponsored International Jazz Day performances in Havana, Cuba; St. Petersburg, Russia; Melbourne, Australia; and Washington DC. He has performed twice at the White House, including a notable performance with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra for President Obama’s first State Dinner. Moreover, he has served as Artist-In-Residence at the Monterey and Singapore Jazz Festivals.

Industry Leadership

As a music industry leader, Kurt Elling served six years as a Trustee and two years as Vice Chairman of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.