Kendra Shank

Hailed by critics as "an adventurous and innovative artist" (Variety) and "one of the top jazz singers around today" (L.A. Jazz Scene), Kendra Shank combines jazz originals, standards, folk/pop tunes, French songs, and open improvisation in a genre-bending style that inspired Gary Giddins to call her "one of New York's most original performers" (Jazz Times).Building on studies with jazz vocalist Jay Clayton, Shank forged successful careers in Seattle, WA and Paris, France (1988 - 1996) before settling in her current New York City home in 1997. In 1991 she was vocalist/guitarist/percussionist in the Bob Dorough Quartet and in 1992 made her New York debut at the Village Vanguard in a showcase performance hosted by jazz legend Shirley Horn.Shank's critically-acclaimed debut album, "Afterglow" (Mapleshade, 1994), was co-produced by Horn and features pianist Larry Willis and saxophonist Gary Bartz. Her following two releases on the Jazz Focus label, "Wish" (1998) and "Reflections" (2000), put her in the Down Beat International Critics Poll list of "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" and in the "Top Ten" lists of Jazziz, The Boston Globe, and Newsday. Grammy-winning journalist Bob Blumenthal wrote: "This vocalist makes lyrics believable, invents like an instrumentalist, and has an ear second to none for little-known and unknown tunes."In 2007, Challenge Records released Shank's newest album, "A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook," which received raves in NY Times, Down Beat (4 stars), Jazz Times, Entertainment Weekly, Jazziz, and more. Featuring Shank's ensemble of 8 years with Frank Kimbrough, Dean Johnson and Tony Moreno, the music focuses on improvisational group interplay and a polyphonic approach, as they reinvent the songs of this important composer.Shank headlines at clubs and festivals internationally, and has been featured on National Public Radio's "Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland" and "JazzSet." She has been a vocal guest with Jay Clayton, Bud Shank, Norman Hedman, and Peter Leitch, and was guest guitarist on Abbey Lincoln's CD "Over The Years" (Verve, 2000). For music samples and more information, visit http://www.kendrashank.com .