Kurt Elling

GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY nominated a dozen times.

Elling's rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth. His repertoire includes original compositions and modern interpretations of standards, all of which are springboards for inspired improvisation, scatting, spoken word and poetry.

The New York Times declared, "Elling is the standout male vocalist of our time." The Washington Post added, "Since the mid-1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling. With his soaring vocal flights, his edgy lyrics and sense of being on a musical mission, he has come to embody the creative spirit in jazz."

Elling was the Artist-in-Residence for the Singapore and Monterey Jazz Festivals. He has also written multi-disciplinary works for The Steppenwolf Theatre and the City of Chicago. The Obama Administration's first state dinner featured Elling in a command performance.

Elling is a renowned artist of vocalese — the writing and performing of words over recorded improvised jazz solos. The natural heir to jazz pioneers Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure and Jon Hendricks, Elling has set his own lyrics to the improvised solos of Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny. He often incorporates images and references from writers such as Rilke, Rumi, Neruda and Proust into his work. The late poet and Bollingen Prize winner Robert Creeley wrote, "Kurt Elling takes us into a world of sacred particulars. His words are informed by a powerful poetic spirit." Said Robert Pinsky, former Poet Laureate of the United States, "In Kurt Elling's art, the voice of jazz gives a new spiritual presence to the ancient, sweet and powerful bond between poetry and music."

Kurt Elling has toured vigorously throughout his career, thrilling audiences throughout the world. In that time he has led his own ensemble and has collaborated with many of the world's finest orchestras.

Passion World, Kurt Elling’s 2015 recording, culminates nearly five years of collecting and honing songs – and in some cases writing new lyrics – that express love, romance and heartbreak around the world. Throughout his travels, Elling has observed how deeply felt passions are shaped in countless ways by each unique culture.

Those insights have guided the creation of Passion World, a tour-de-force project that is vibrant with diversity, celebrating what makes us all human. In concert Elling tells rich stories about the history and context of each of these songs to sweep you away on a grand tour of exotic places, cultures and times. Passion World is a musical magic carpet taking you on a fascinating journey through the realms of romance in a concert not to be missed.

Awards

Grammy Awards:

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman

Grammy Nominations:

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Upward Spiral, by the Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: 1619 Broadway – The Brill Building Project
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: The Gate
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: Dedicated to You
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: Nightmoves
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: Man in the Air
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: Flirting With Twilight
- Best Jazz Vocal Album: Live in Chicago
- Best Jazz Vocal Performance: This Time It's Love
- Best Jazz Vocal Performance: The Messenger
- Best Jazz Vocal Performance: Close Your Eyes
- Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist "Dedicated to You" from Dedicated to You (Arrangement by Laurence Hobgood)
- Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist "Easy Living" from Flirting With Twilight (Arrangement by Kurt Elling and Laurence Hobgood)
DownBeat:
- Critics Poll Winner: Male Vocalist of the Year – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Critics Poll Winner: Talent Deserving Wider Recognition – 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Readers Poll Winner: Male Vocalist of the Year – 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
JazzTimes:
- Readers' Poll: Male Vocalist of the Year – 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Readers' Poll: Best New Release - 2012: 1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project
Jazz Journalists Association:
- Male Singer of the Year – 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
JazzWeek:
- Vocalist of the Year – 2006
- Record of the Year: The Gate – 2011
Edison Jazz/World, The Netherlands:
- Edison Jazz Oeuvreprijs (Lifetime Achievement Award) - 2014
- Jazz Vocal: Kurt Elling, The Gate – 2011
Jazz FM Awards:
- International Jazz Artist of the Year – 2013
Blue Note Milano:
- Award of the Year - 2013
Scottish Jazz Awards:
- International category – 2012
Silesian Jazz Festival, Poland:
- Jazz Ambassador – 2012
ECHO Jazz, Germany:
- International Male Singer of the Year: Kurt Elling, The Gate – 2012
Académie du Jazz de Paris:
- Prix Billie Holiday: The Messenger
Nightlife Awards:
- Outstanding Jazz Vocalist in a Major Engagement — 2010
Union League Club of Chicago:
- Distinguished Musician — Inducted in 2011
Chicago Music Awards:
- Jazz Record of the Year — 1997
Rockford Area Music Awards:
- Hall Of Fame Induction — 2000
Chicago Tribune:
- A Chicagoan of The Year (Arts) — 1995
Crain's Chicago Business:
- Inductee: 40 under 40 (Who Make a Difference in Chicago Business) — 1998
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Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter at the Boulder Theater

by Geoff Anderson
October 18, 2023

Kurt Elling Charlie Hunter Superblue Boulder Theater Boulder, Colorado October 8, 2023 Both Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter have been at the leading edge of jazz and jazz-adjacent music for about 30 years now. They've consistently shown unrelenting creativity, searching for new sounds and innovative concepts. They've collaborated off and on for over 20 years. An early notable joint effort appeared on two tracks on Hunter's Songs From the Analog Playground (Blue Note, 2001). But ...

Live Review

Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter at Boulder Theater

by Steven Roby
October 13, 2023

Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter Boulder Theater Boulder, CO October 8, 2023 Supporting their latest collaboration album, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree (Edition Records, 2023), jazz icon Kurt Elling and guitar maestro Charlie Hunter offered a high-energy performance on October 8th at the Boulder Theater. The incredible duo's band featured Julius Rodriguez on keyboards and Marcus Finnie on drums. Elling and company delivered a crowd-pleasing 90-minute set filled with funky originals, innovative covers, and a few ...

Profile

The Continuing Evolution of Kurt Elling

by Mathew Bahl
August 23, 2023

"I feel like at this point in my career I don't have to prove that I can do fifteen different things to greater or lesser degrees of expertise." Kurt Elling is discussing the genesis of his latest record, Flirting With Twilight. “I've made these roller coaster rides every time," says the Chicago-based jazz singer referring to his four Grammy-nominated CDs on the Blue Note label. “Even on This Time, It's Love there were still these elements of the ...

Album Review

Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter: SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree

Read "SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
June 14, 2023

As Shakespeare said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter follow up their Grammy-nominated 2021 album, SuperBlue (Edition), with another sublime blend of jazz and groove. As on the first disc, jazz is represented by Elling, groove by Butcher Brown keyboardist DJ Harrison and drummer Corey Fonville. Hunter, who has had a foot in both camps for over two decades, acts as marriage broker. Some jazz fans have an aversion to singers, ...

Album Review

Laila Biali: Your Requests

Read "Your Requests" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
May 16, 2023

While the jazz pipeline produces plenty of artists who pay no mind to an audience's interests, those types--figures with tunnel vision, in many if not most ways--rarely reach their full potential. Instead, it's the musicians who make it a point to communicate who tend to forge the strongest bonds with those on the receiving end. Laila Biali is one such figure. This JUNO-winning gem of a vocalist, pianist, arranger and songwriter always manages to connect. Biali has a keen awareness ...

Album Review

Steven Feifke: The Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra

Read "The Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
May 10, 2023

Metti assieme un talentoso giovane orchestratore come Steven Feifke, un trombettista di prima grandezza come Bijon Watson e una big band con grandi nomi e prestigiosi ospiti e il risultato è scontato. Il debutto della Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra è stato propiziato dalla collaborazione col Jazz Education Network ed ha assunto le vesti di un album includendo in organico ospiti di rilievo come Kurt Elling, Sean Jones e Chad Lefkowitz Brown. Il principale riferimento è la tradizione ...

In Pictures

Kurt Elling featuring Charlie Hunter SuperBlue at Bluenote In Milan

by Roberto Cifarelli
November 14, 2022

A collection of photos from the Kurt Elling concert at Bluenote in Milan on November 04, 2022 featuring Kurt Elling on vocals, Charlie Hunter on guitar, Kenny Banks on keyboards and Marcus Finnie on drums. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY nominated a dozen times. Elling's rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth. His repertoire includes original compositions ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY nominated a dozen times. Elling\'s rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
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Festival

Giants Of Jazz To Headline 2019 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

Source: Niamh Murphy
July 12, 2019

Exciting headline acts have been announced for the 42nd Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in Ireland, which takes place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend from Thursday, 24th to Monday, 28th October. Headliners Giants of Jazz will join globally renowned artists pushing the boundaries of the musical genre today. The line-up features legendary artists including Grammy Hall of Famer Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, listed among Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Immortal Artists”; Kurt Elling with ‘Kurt Elling sings A Century of ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY nominated a dozen times. Elling\'s rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY nominated a dozen times. Elling\'s rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
read more

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Branford Marsalis & Kurt Elling, Denise Thimes, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
January 25, 2017

This week's calendar of jazz and creative music in St. Louis includes a early-week visit from two well-known jazz performers touring together for the first time, plus a couple of new jam sessions providing musical workout opportunities for local players, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Tuesday, January 24 Tonight, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, his quartet, and singer Kurt Elling will perform for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro. Marsalis and Elling are touring together in ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today!

GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been GRAMMY nominated a dozen times. Elling\'s rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Kurt Elling

Source: Michael Ricci
November 2, 2015

All About Jazz is celebrating Kurt Elling's birthday today! GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling is among the world\'s foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was been named “Male Singer of the Year" by the Jazz Journalists Association eight times in that same span. Every one of Elling\'s ten albums has been nominated for a GRAMMY. Elling\'s rich baritone spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth... Read more. Place ...
read more

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

New York City

Kurt Elling

Awards

Primary Instrument

Location

Kurt Elling

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