I'm about to start a new musical endeavour that will traverse through different seasons, locations, and cultures.
My plan is to produce four albums in four different countries in collaboration with musicians from each of those countries!
Each of the four albums will represent a season, and together they will tell a story both of my own travels and of the journey jazz has taken across the world.
I'm starting with Spring, a very good place to start, and I need your help to push this little creative rowboat away from the shore, to get me started on this journey.
A stage presence only matched by the clarity of her voice..
Truly one of the best swing-style singers in the current scene..
Performed in..
France, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Italy, India, Russia, Austria, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Chile, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Israel, Norway.
Festivals Include..
New York Winter Jazz Festival (USA), Malta International Jazz Festival, Sapporo International Jazz Festival (Japan), Prague Proms (Czech Republic), Cavill Leitch New Zealand International Jazz Festival, Mithra Jazz à Liege (Belgium), Ernen Musikdorf Festival (Switzerland) and many more..
"Charismatic and technically gifted" (All About Jazz, USA) jazz vocalist Hetty Kate has "a stage presence only matched by the clarity of her voice.." (James Morrison, AU). Raised in both England and Australia, and now living in France, Hetty has released nine albums and graced stages large and small from New Zealand to New York.
"Hetty's truly one of the best swing-style vocalists (I’m talking 1940, Benny Goodman style 4/4 swing) on the current scene..” Will Friedwald : Jazz Critic & Author (USA)
A genuine entertainer, Hetty really swings; and her natural musicality, pitch and vocal purity ensure her voice is instantly recognisable. Furthermore Hetty is often lauded by both musicians and audiences for what she ‘doesn’t do’ as a jazz singer. Originally trained in classical voice, Hetty’s approach honours the composer by keeping true to the melody and lyric, and uses improvisation in a way which never detracts from the story of the song.
It is this rare quality that draws invitations to work with renowned labels and artists in Australia and Europe, including a long standing working relationship with jazz luminary James Morrison (AU), performances with classical pianist Simon Tedeschi (AU), the Amazing Keystone Big Band (FR) as well as ABC Jazz / Universal Music.
"Hetty has an approach to the songs that feels just right. She sings with an easy confidence that is infectious."
Joseph Lang : Jersey Jazz Magazine (USA)
Hetty has featured at premier jazz festivals internationally, including the New York Winter Jazz Festival (USA), Sapporo International Jazz Festival (Japan), Ascona Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Piacenza Jazz Festival (Italy), Jazz en Touraine (France), Sancy Jazz Festival (France), Prague Proms (Czech Republic) and the New Zealand Int. Jazz Festival; and is a frequent guest of festivals around Australia.
Many career highlights include touring with James Morrison’s bands for over four years. During this time, Hetty was the featured soloist in his symphonic concert ‘The A to Z of Jazz’ with the Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmanian and Western Australian Symphony Orchestras as well as Christchurch, Auckland and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at the Prague Proms in 2016. The concerts yielded a live recording, ‘A to Z of Jazz’ : James Morrison, Ben Northey, Hetty Kate and the MSO (ABC Jazz) which won a coveted ‘Bell Award’ in the Australian National Jazz Awards in 2015.
Broadening her performing horizons, Hetty won the lead role of Ava Gardner in Eric McCusker’s original musical ‘Ava at the End of the World’ in Melbourne; and recently joined The Amazing Keystone Big Band (France) to tour nationally with their West Side Story concert in the role of Maria. Raised on musicals in London's West End, singing Bernstein is a particular joy.
When in Australia Hetty is grateful to be a participant in the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Share the Music community program. A very special and giving initiative, this brings music to members of the community that may not be able to travel to enjoy a performance at the Recital Centre. Find out more here.
Acclaim
A stage presence only matched by the clarity of her voice
Acclaim
Like Peggy Lee on a Vespa
Acclaim
Truly one of the best swing-style singers
on the current scene
Acclaim
A charismatic and technically gifted vocalist
Acclaim
Hetty Kate’s voice overflows with a natural musicality
There are so many beautiful jazz standards to sing and explore. Some say 'why don't you write your own songs?'
Well maybe someday - but for me all of life's poetry can be found in the pages of
the Great American Songbook. It's a priviledge to keep this music alive. Author Nick Hornby summed it up best..
"Using someone else's poetry to express how you feel. This is a delicate thing."
Upcoming Concerts
Upcoming shows are also listed on Hetty Kate's Facebook page.
4 track EP of rare standards in 'protest' of love! Featuring Melbourne musicians Mark Fitzgibbon (piano), Sam Lemann (guitar), Ben Hanlon (double bass). Recorded in Melbourne, Australia. Released on 14 February 2023 (Digital)
Under Paris Skies (2019)
Trio album of standards in English and French, with James Sherlock (guitar) and Ben Hanlon (double bass). Engineered by Niko Schauble at Pughouse Studios (AU) in 2019.
Comes Love EP (2016)
7 track EP with James Sherlock (guitar) and Tamara Murphy (double bass). Engineered by Niko Schauble at Pughouse Studios (AU) in 2016. Currently available hardcopy & digital.
Dim All The Lights (2014)
Quintet album of beautiful standards made famous by June Christy, Julie London & Peggy Lee. Now only available as a digital download & streaming. ABC Jazz / Universal. More Info.
The A to Z of Jazz (2014)
James Morrison, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Ben Northey (conducting), Doug De Vries (guitar), Ben Robertson (d-bass), David Jones (drums).
ABC Jazz / Universal. More info.
Gordon Webster Meets Hetty Kate (2014)
The best selling swing album, for dancers and wallflowers alike. A collaboration with the King of Swing Piano Gordon Webster. Recorded in NYC with
an all star cast of the Big Apple's best. Available as a hard copy & digital download.
11:60pm (2011)
The followup album to 'A Late Brunch', Hetty Kate & Sam Lemann's band 'The Irwell Street String Band' present sparkling
songs from yesteryear. Django Reinhardt, Rosemary Clooney, Harry James and more. Digital download only.
Uh!Oh! (2011)
A Retro 50's Beatnik Lounge Exotica Extravaganza "The disc focuses, lovingly, on standards from the 1950s and laces them, bizarrely but immaculately, with vestigial psychedelia, electro-acoustica and surf twangadelica." Chris May - All About Jazz.
Kissing Bug EP (2010)
Five classic songs from The American Songbook with Art Hirahara (piano), Tal Ronen (d-bass) and Dan Aran (drums). Recorded
in New York City by Michael Perez Cisneros. Available in Hard Copy and Digital Download.
A Late Brunch On Irwell Street (2009)
The very first album, a sweet collection of favourites from Hetty Kate and Sam Lemann (guitar). The start of their friendship and the beginning of 'The Irwell Street String Band'. Digital download only.
FIND ME ONLINE
Contact Hetty
For a press kit and/or press quality photographs please get in touch.