Nicole Zuraitis
Background information
BornWaterbury, Connecticut
GenresJazz, Pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Voice, piano
Websitewww.nicolezmusic.com

Nicole Zuraitis is a two time Grammy-nominated American jazz vocalist, pianist, songwriter and arranger.[1][2][3]

Biography

Music studies

Zuraitis began to sing jazz with a local community college big band after being encouraged by her high school music director. She also frequently attended Litchfield Jazz Camp, which she attributes to her early interest in jazz.[4][5][6]

Zuraitis studied classical voice at New York University. After a brief period performing opera professionally after graduation, she moved back to the New York City to pursue songwriting and jazz in 2009.[7][8][9][10]

Music career

Nicole Zuraitis is a 2 time GRAMMY-nominated American jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal.[11] With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police),[12] Nicole has positioned herself as one of the top artists and "prolific songwriters" (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond.[13]

As a recording artist, Nicole has released five albums as leader, and her sixth album How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride, released July 7th, 2023,[14] featuring all original music and was nominated for a GRAMMY for BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM.[15] Besides leading her quartet, Nicole is the premier vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and frequently headlines iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel, 54 Below and the late, great 55 Bar. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and Macon Pops and has supported iconic singers like Melanie, Morgan James, Darren Criss and Livingston Taylor on piano and vocals.

Nicole's arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene", co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®,[16] spring boarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. In 2020, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine,[17] and her weekly live stream during the Covid-19 crisis, "Virtual Piano Lounge," was featured in Forbes Magazine.[18] Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries, including Christian McBride, David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Stephen Feifke, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez (drummer), Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim, Rachel Z, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie.[19]

Teaching

Nicole Zuraitis currently teaches at the vocal faculty at New York University,[20] and at the jazz vocal faculty at the State University of New York at Purchase.[21]

She is a Jazz Vocal Instructor at Litchfield Jazz Camp.[22] She gives songwriting and vocal workshops around the globe.

Philanthropy

Nicole is an ardent activist with a long history of giving back.

Nicole and her husband Dan Pugach have rescued and rehabilitated pitbulls from kill shelters in New York City since 2010. Portions of her album sales go directly to animal rescue organizations.[23]

Nicole is an advocate for mental health awareness, with portions of her album Hive Mind going to support people in crisis.[24]

Her album How Love Begins coincided with a benefit concert and day of activism organized and executed by Nicole called Siren Songs to Save the Sound, benefiting Save The Sound. Org.[25]

Early life

Nicole Zuraitis grew up in Connecticut and had an early gift for athletics, but suffered a hip flexor injury while playing youth soccer in France with the Olympic development soccer team. She began to shift her focus towards singing as well as playing trombone and percussion. She attended Litchfield public schools as well as Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Connecticut.[26]

Awards

Zuraitis' performance of Dolly Parton’s Jolene (song) in collaboration with the Dan Pugach Nonet received a Grammy Award nomination in 2019 for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals.[27] Her album How Love Begins earned Nicole her second Grammy Award nomination in 2024 for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[28] She was hosted as a guest of honor by the WOW! forum in fall 2019.[29]

In 2020, Broadway World nominated Zuraitis for five Cabaret Awards. Additionally, she was the 2016 Coffee Music Project New York Songwriting Project winner and 2015 runner-up in The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Zuraitis was named in Connecticut Magazine's "40 under 40". She received the IMEA Best Jazz Album award, the Johnny Mercer Award in the American Traditions Competition and the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer award.[1][8][2][30][31][32][5]

Personal life

Zuraitis married drummer and composer Dan Pugach in 2018.[33] They currently live in Connecticut.[34]

Discography

As leader

  • Cafės & Conversations– EP (La Reserve Records, 2023)[35]
  • How Love Begins (Outside In Music, 2023)[36]
  • All Wandering Hearts (DotTime Records, 2020)
  • Live at Two-Headed Calf - with Brandon Scott Coleman (2018)
  • Hive Mind (DotTime Records, 2017)
  • Pariah Anthem - (2013)
  • Spread the Word (2008)

As group

  • Sonica– with Thana Alexa, Julia Adamy (hana Alexa Pavelic, Nicole Zuraitis, Julia Sinclair Pederson, Outside in Music, 2022)[37]

As guest

  • Ona – Thana Alexa (Independent, 2020)
  • All About Love – Elise Testone (2020)
  • Plus One – Dan Pugach Nonet (Unit Records, 2018)
  • Day Dream – Carmen Staaf Sextet (2017)
  • Wishes on a Neon Sign – Abbie Gardner (2017)
  • Come to Paradise – Suzanne Dean (2016)
  • Sealine Woman – With Nikki and The Riot (2016)
  • Right Here – Andrea Daly (2016)
  • Take Some Air – EVA (Independent, 2015)
  • Something New – Jennifer Sullivan (Independent, 2014)

References

  1. 1 2 "Artist: Nicole Zuraitis". Grammy. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. 1 2 Lynch, Joe. "Grammys 2019 Nominees: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. ↑ "Grammys 2019: See All the Winners". Time. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  4. ↑ Montebello, Joseph (2 January 2019). "Singer/songwriter Nicole Zuraitis gets nod from the Grammys". Litchfield County Times. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. 1 2 Ofgang, Wollschlager, Yuravich, Cohen, Goncalves, Brown (27 January 2020). "40 Under 40: The Class of 2020". Connecticut Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Burke, Debbie (December 2018). "A Lilt, a Bounce". Debbie Burke Jazz Author. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ↑ Nyberg, Ann (10 July 2019). "Nyberg: Nicole Zuraitis, Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, composer". News 8. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. 1 2 "Newlywed jazz artists Nicole Zuraitis and Dan Pugach are dually GRAMMY® nominated for their arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene"". ArtVoice. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  9. ↑ "25 NYU'ers Nominated for 37 Grammy Awards". NYU. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  10. ↑ "Events in Connecticut for Nov. 2-8, 2014". The New York Times. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. ↑ "Hall of Fame: Previous Competitions". American Traditions Vocal Collection. American Traditions Vocal Collection, Inc. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Horne Mason, Sheila. "The 2016 Litchfield Jazz Festival - Generations of Jazz". Jazz Police. Illicit Productions.com. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis Quartet". Concord Community Concert Association. Concord Community Concert Association. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis How Love Begins Album". Outside In Music. JMI & OiM. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Enos, Morgan. "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". Grammy Awards. Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "2019 Grammy Awards: Complete Nominees and Winners List". Grammy Awards. Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Ofgang, Erik; Wollschlager, Mike; Yuravich, Albie; Shameer Cohen, Sherry; Goncalves, Nicole; Brown, Pamela. "Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40, class of 2020". ctpost.com. Hearst Media Services CT. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  18. ↑ Goldsmith, Margie. "Streaming The Music During Covid-19". Forbes. Forbes Media. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  19. ↑ "The Nicole Zuraitis Quartet". The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center. The Arts Council, Inc. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis". NYU – Steinhardt. New York University. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis". Jazz Studies. Purchase College State University of New York. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  23. ↑ Hunter, Brooke. "Nicole Zuraitis: Interview With Nicole Zuraitis". Girl.Com.Au. Girl.Com.Au. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis performs "Sugar Spun Girl"". This Is My Brave. This Is My Brave. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Siren Songs – For the Love of the Sound". Save The Sound. Save The Sound. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  26. ↑ McNally, Owen. "Jazz Singer Nicole Zuratis To Perform At Atheneum". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  27. ↑ Montebello, Joseph (February 11, 2022). "Singer/songwriter Nicole Zuraitis gets nod from the Grammys". CT Insider. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Grammy Awards". Grammy Awards. Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Glanzr (5 October 2019). "Jazz pianist Nicole Zuraitis, a Waterbury native, shares story at WOW! Forum // WITH VIDEO". Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  30. ↑ "2019 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominations". Los Angeles Daily. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  31. ↑ "Here Are the 2019 Grammy Winners". GQ. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  32. ↑ Orten, Maddie. "NJPAC Honors Sarah Vaughan with Annual Jazz Vocal Competition". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  33. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  34. ↑ Ofgang, Erik; Wollschlager, Mike; Yuravich, Albie; Shameer Cohen, Sherry; Goncalves, Nicole; Brown, Pamela. "Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40, class of 2020". ctpost.com. Hearst Media Services CT. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  35. ↑ "Nicole Zuraitis EP Release Concert". Drom. DromNYC. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  36. ↑ Bilawsky, Dan (25 August 2023). "Album Review: Nicole Zuraitis: How Love Begins". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  37. ↑ "Sonica". Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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