STACEY KENT - NOSPR

Stacey Kent is an outstanding jazz vocalist, winner of prestigious awards (nominated for a Grammy, among others) as well as an artist on the Blue Note label.

She was born in the United States, but began her career in England, where she became involved with saxophonist Jim Tomlinson – not only artistically, but also privately. With the release of her first solo album, Close Your Eyes, in 1997, critics proclaimed the birth of a new jazz star with a pure, captivating voice. They praised her ability for impeccable phrasing and a unique aesthetic that combines sensitivity and sophistication.

Her covers of Great American Songbook standards and Brazilian repertoire, including the classics of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Antonio Carlos Jobim, have developed her indistinguishable, distinctive style, her own sound.

Stacey Kent has established herself as one of the brightest jazz stars of the new century: she was voted Best Jazz Vocalist at the 2001 British Jazz Awards and the 2002 BBC Jazz Awards. Even greater success came with the release of her sixth album Breakfast On the Morning Tram in the fall of 2007 (the first under the legendary Blue Note label), which almost immediately sold 300,000 copies. In France, the album broke a record with 150,000 CDs, one of the best sales of a jazz album in that country. The artist then made a triumphant tour. In the spring of 2009, Stacey Kent was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres national order, awarded by the French Minister of Culture.

The first signs of her Francophone inclinations were already evident on the album Breakfast On the Morning Tram, which featured several songs from the French repertoire: Samba Saravah and two covers of Serge Gainsbourg songs. On the album Raconte-moi... Kent returned to the classics of French music, rediscovering works by artists such as Barbara, Paul Misraki, Henri Salvador, Georges Moustaki and Benjamin Biolay. "She has a style comparable to the greatest – to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, she sings like Nat King Cole, clear, distinct, in a conversational tone," the late Jay Livingston, a three-time Oscar winner, once said of Kent.

"Anyone who listens to Stacey Kent sing has the impression that she sings exclusively for him," he said. – complimented critics, emphasizing the unique bond that develops at concerts between the artist and listeners. All of Stacey Kent's albums have turned out to be bestsellers and received prestigious awards (including BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Award). The concert at Katowice's NOSPR will be an opportunity to travel through time, space, between continents and around jazz genres. A must-see item for all music lovers.