Description
Janis Siegel (The Manhattan Transfer)
Janis Siegel’s powerful and versatile voice became one of the group’s most recognized trademarks, earning 10 Grammy Awards and 18 nominations over the course of her career. Beyond the Transfer, she has sustained a solo career spanning more than a dozen finely crafted albums and numerous collaborative projects with some of the world’s most renowned musicians. A warm and wise presence on the world stage, she also co-leads the acclaimed vocal concert series Vocal Mania alongside Lauren Kinhan.
Lauren Kinhan (The New York Voices)
A veteran singer, composer, arranger, and educator, Lauren Kinhan has been creating genre-smearing music for decades — whether writing and producing her own records, touring as a member of the internationally renowned New York Voices, or passing her knowledge on to the next generation. She possesses a rare and beautiful instrument, tough and tender, clear and fine-grained in every register, dipping down into husky chest notes and ascending into silvery head tones. During the pandemic, she and Janis Siegel reimagined their monthly concert series Vocal Mania as Vocal Gumbo, turning their homes into recording studios and their kitchens into TV soundstages.
Nicole Zuraitis
Nicole Zuraitis is a 2x Grammy-winning and 6x Grammy-nominated jazz singer-songwriter, pianist, and arranger. Her sixth album, How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time Grammy winner Christian McBride, won Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards and features all original music. A proud educator and vocal faculty member at NYU, Nicole has positioned herself as one of the most compelling voices, and prolific songwriters, to watch in jazz today. She’s a near and dear performer at DROM and we are thrilled to have her return to our stage!
DUCHESS (Amy Cervini, Melissa Stylianou, and Hilary Gardner)
Sure-footed swing, sweet-toned harmony, and charm are embodied in the jazz vocal trio Duchess, featuring notable New York singers Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, and Melissa Stylianou. Blending the classic and the contemporary, the trio has performed at major festivals and esteemed jazz clubs throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Israel, rightly earning a reputation for beautiful singing and big fun. Inspired by the Boswell Sisters, their 2017 follow-up album Laughing at Life garnered rave reviews, prompting DownBeat Magazine to declare, “For a good time, call Duchess.”
Charles Turner
Brooklyn-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Charles Turner has taken the New York City scene by storm, holding residencies and performing at venues like Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Smoke Jazz Club, and the historic Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he has extended his reach as an educator, teaching at the American School of Modern Music in Paris and conducting masterclasses at universities including NYU. His sophomore album Single & In Love, produced by Grammy Award-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., has received critical acclaim and continues to reach audiences around the world.
Lillias White
Described by The New York Times as a “one-of-a-kind performer who combines the sass of a classic blues mama with the skill of a Broadway star,” Tony and Daytime Emmy Award winner Lillias White is internationally recognized for her glorious voice and extraordinary ability to communicate the heart of a song. Her Tony-winning performance in Cy Coleman’s Broadway musical The Life was followed by a nomination for Fela!, with additional Broadway credits including Hadestown, Dreamgirls, Cats, and Chicago. She is also beloved by audiences for voicing the lead muse Calliope in Disney’s animated feature Hercules and remains an active cabaret performer, having appeared at Carnegie Hall and with the Brooklyn Philharmonic.
Ella Bric (Linda Briceño)
Linda Briceño is a Venezuelan songwriter, trumpeter, producer, and vocalist who made history as the first woman ever to win Producer of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards. Originally from Venezuela, she developed her musical foundation through El Sistema de Orquestas and built a career as a trumpeter and soloist, performing alongside luminaries like Wynton Marsalis and Arturo Sandoval. Now performing under the persona Ella Bric, she steps forward as a lead singer and trumpeter, experimenting with R&B, folk, Afro-Latin, and jazz — with work focused on immigration, identity, and pan-Latin cultural heritage.
Jimmy Lin
A rising star and current Berklee College of Music student, Jimmy Lin brings a gorgeous, resonant baritone to the Vocal Gumbo stage.
Addison Frei (Piano)
From early experiences playing community theater and big band dance halls in Lawrence, Kansas, pianist Addison Frei has brought joy to countless audiences through a warm musical spirit and melodic sensibility. His lyrical pianism has made him a favorite accompanist for many vocalists, and he has won first prize in several prestigious competitions including the Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition and the UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition. A graduate of the Juilliard School’s Artist Diploma program, Frei has recorded more than 30 albums as a sideman and released several acclaimed records under his own name.
Brandi Disterheft (Bass)
Jazz bassist Brandi Disterheft relocated to NYC to begin an apprenticeship under Miles Davis’ bassist Ron Carter, and has since captivated international audiences with her fiery bass playing and innovative live shows. Oscar Peterson notably said of her, “She has the same lope or rhythmic pulse as my bassist, Ray Brown. She is what we call serious.” A Juno Award winner for her debut album, she has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Opera House, with collaborators ranging from Hank Jones to George Coleman.
Ross Pederson (Drums)
In his decade-plus residence in New York, compelling drummer and producer Ross Pederson has performed regularly around town and toured the world as a sideman — from collaborating with Snarky Puppy to supporting Patti Austin at a Kennedy Center New Year’s Eve extravaganza. Since 2016, he has served as the drummer for The Manhattan Transfer, touring internationally with the legendary vocal group. He recently released his debut album as a leader, Identity, showcasing his broad musical palette spanning jazz, rock, pop, and hip-hop.
