Judy Niemack
©Photography / Jos Knaepen
vocals
USA
Judy NIEMACK is a real jazz singer. Her delivery of lyrics is full of emotion and elegance, while in her scat singing she is a consummate musician, exploring the music like a virtuoso horn player.
Having completed her Classical voice studies as a coloratura soprano, she comes out of the mainstream jazz tradition, breaking new ground with original lyrics, arrangements and a modern approach to standards. Judy has a dual international career as performer and vocal jazz educator.
Throughout her career, Judy Niemack has accomplished a great deal as a singer, educator, lyricist, composer, and inspiration to younger jazz vocalists.
Judy’s vocal improvisation method book and CD “Hear It And Sing It! – Exploring Modal Jazz” was published by Second Floor Music in 2004, and her “Pro-Vocal Jazz Standards” was published by Hal Leonard in 2008. About her latest book, Judy says, “My third book, “Hear It And Sing It! – Exploring the Blues” includes performances not only by me, but also by Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy and Darmon Meader. I think it will help to raise the bar in vocal jazz education.”
Thanks to her beautiful voice, fearless improvising, impressive musicianship and versatility, Judy Niemack has since worked with many of the “who’s who” of jazz.
Yet with all that she has done thus far, one gets the impression that the best is yet to come. “I love standards and have performed them all of my life but this is a new era and it is time to create new music,” she says. “I’m open to all forms of vocal improvisation; I’m interested in the lifelong task of mastering the art of music making, and in pushing the vocal art form forward to new places.”
“If you want to know what real jazz singing can be (but rarely is), listen to Judy Niemack…She is a musician in the truest sense, having mastered her instrument (a beautiful one), and her chosen language and crafted her own style” Dan Morgenstern
Artist on GAM Records
Voices in Flight – New Release! Out Now!
“Voices In Flight" is the result of the collaboration between Master vocalists Judy Niemack and Jay Clayton.
This marks their debut recording, with tracks featuring their voices together as well as in varied combinations with three internationally known jazz musicians. Accompanied by guitarist Jeanfrançois Prins, bassist Jay Anderson, and pianist John Di Martino, who create a brilliant and solid backing, they explore creative interplay in this musical mix, offering a diverse range of songs from the likes of Thelonious Monk and Kenny Dorham as well as poems, originals and re-arranged standards.
Using both lyrics and abstract sounds, the two vocalists communicate with ease while exploring the music's beauty and emotional depths. Their seamless collaboration is a testament to their mutual respect and admiration for each other.
Beauty & the Prince
Guitarist Jeanfrançois Prins has once again created a rich, multi-textured musical tapestry with a collection of grooving jazz standards, originals, and fusion tunes. The interaction between Prins and his band, each a world-renowned player in his own right, shows the intense listening and mutual inspiration felt by all.