April 10, 2005:

Gretchen Parlato, vocalist

“… her talent was so deeply centered and concentrated that the effect might have been the same had she stood behind a curtain.”

—Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

Winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in September, vocalist Gretchen Parlato has been widely acclaimed as a musician’s singer.

Jazz legend Herbie Hancock says, “The first thing you notice about Gretchen Parlato is that she's a singer with a deep, almost magical connection to the music. She takes a lot of chances with her understated style, and it works. Every note is expressive, powerful, and pretty. And most important, her heart is in the right place.”

Wayne Shorter adds, “There’s no one out there like Gretchen.”