About Laurie
A Bronx girl ...
Bronx born and bred Laurie Krauz thrills audiences with her award-winning, blues-influenced jazz vocals and her powerful emotional range. Blazing new musical territory, Laurie combines improvisational elements with the passion and sensuality found in other forms of music to create a unique, soulful jazz – “she creates a mood and weaves a musical story with every cell of her being.” Named one of the top 525 jazz vocalists of all time in a book by noted jazz critic, Scott Yanow, entitled The Jazz Singers (Backbeat Books 2008).
Laurie’s musical career began with piano lessons at the age of 5. When, several years later, her beloved teacher suddenly passed away, Laurie chose not to continue and did not return to music until many years later. Although she included music in her coursework at The Pennsylvania State University (1976, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), her early career took her from Medical Social Work to the world of Finance and studies toward an MBA at New York University. In 1980, while working on Wall Street, Laurie took a singing course as a lark and her career indecision ceased – she had found her home in music. Three years later, after voice and music studies with Ellie Ellsworth (The Actor’s Institute), Ron Panvini, Marianne Challis and Susan Slavin, Laurie became possibly the first bank officer to trade in her “key to the executive washroom” to perform in summer stock.
On the road ...
In 1986, having traveled the U.S. and Canada for several years in musical theatre, Laurie was cast in a four-part harmony swing ensemble and discovered the thrill of improvisation (her epiphany). She segued from musical theatre to her work as a jazz vocalist. Since then, she has expanded her musical studies with course work at NewSchool University in New York City and private coachings. Over the years, her teachers have included Mark Murphy, Daryl Kojak, Carla White, Woody Mann, Stephen Tarshis and Jay Bianchi. Over the past few years, to the delight of her audiences as well as other artists seeking new material, Laurie has put lyrics to a number of compositions by her long-time collaborator, Daryl Kojak.
Of clubs and great artists ...
Laurie has performed live with a number of jazz luminaries including George Coleman, Harold Mabern, Cameron Brown and Warren Vaché and has appeared at such legendary venues and events as BB Kings, JVC Jazz Festival, The Blue Note, Iridium, Birdland and Carnegie Hall. Her work has received frequent rave reviews including The New York Daily News (“… the scat’s meow.” – W. Wong) and Time Out Magazine (“You won’t believe your ears – this jazz singer’s velvety voice is a wonder to behold.” – H.S. Jolley). Live radio performances and interviews have included: Jim Lowe & Friends (syndicated nationally); David Kenney’s Everything Old Is New Again (WBAI-FM, New York); and Jeff Duperon’s Straight Ahead (WRTI,Philadelphia). Laurie has participated in a number of commercial projects including: a singing appearance on The Cosby Show; solo vocals on Good Night Blue, a CD released by the Nickelodeon TV program Blues Clues; and various television and radio jingles and videos. In June 2000, her life was chronicled as the cover story for Cabaret Scenes Magazine (Getting Off The Fast Track by Peter Leavy).
Recording projects ...
Laurie released her first CD, Catch Me If You Can (LML Records) in 2001 to much critical acclaim. Along with The Daryl Kojak Trio, Catch Me If You Can features jazz legend George Coleman on tenor sax and has been receiving accolades throughout the jazz world (“Jazz aficionados should welcome this impressive debut album from a singer who will certainly be making her mark on the jazz scene for years to come.” – Michael Laprarie, JazzReview.com). Catch Me If You Can has enjoyed substantial national and international airplay (including featured airplay in New York on world-renowned WBGO).
She is currently in production for her next offering Tapestry Rewoven her award-winning jazz/blues/rock re-imagining of the classic Carole King recording, Tapestry, in its entirety.
Honors ...
Laurie was honored in 2009 with a Back Stage Magazine Bistro Award for her work on Tapestry Rewoven. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 Laurie was named best Female Jazz Vocalist by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC). In 2004 she received Honorable Mention in the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Vocal Competition and was a quarterfinalist in The Savannah Music Festival American Traditions Competition. She is a voting member of NARAS (The Grammy Awards).