For over three decades, New York Voices has set the gold standard for vocal jazz ensembles. The acclaimed quartet – featuring Darmon Meader’s crystalline tenor, Peter Eldridge’s warm baritone, and the shimmering sopranos of Lauren Kinhan and Kim Nazarian – has mastered the art of transforming four voices into a complete instrumental orchestra.
Emerging from Ithaca College in the late 1980s, they quickly distinguished themselves through their GRP Records debut, blending jazz tradition with contemporary sensibilities. Their groundbreaking 1997 album Sing the Songs of Paul Simon showcase their genre-defying approach, reinventing familiar material through sophisticated jazz arrangements and redefined vocal jazz possibilities, while collaborations with jazz orchestras like the WDR Big Band and Bob Mintzer demonstrated their remarkable versatility.
What truly sets New York Voices apart is their dual commitment to performance and education. They’ve nurtured new generations of jazz vocalists through their Vocal Jazz Camp and university residencies, while maintaining active solo careers. Their secret lies in balancing technical perfection with raw emotional expression – whether delivering intricate vocalese passages or reimagining pop classics.
Now entering their fourth decade, New York Voices continues to evolve while staying true to their core mission: proving that the human voice remains jazz’s most versatile and expressive instrument. Their enduring artistry serves as both a celebration of jazz tradition and a roadmap for its future.