Born in England and raised in Australia, Hetty Kate is a jazz vocalist with a distinctive voice, pure tone and an interest in straight-ahead jazz and vintage music. Often compared to a young Peggy Lee or Doris Day and present day chanteuses such as Stacey Kent and Silje Nergaard her phrasing and sweet swinging style has allowed her to perform in many fantastic countries around the world. In the last five years she has appeared on six albums, four of which are with her own bands – and three of those have been released this year.
 

Beginning her musical education in England at a very young age with classical piano and violin lessons; and subsequently taking up alto saxophone in her teenage years she began to sing in her early 20s and studied the Bel Canto classical method in Melbourne. Soon interested in more contemporary styled vocals, Hetty took classes with vocal coach and vocalist Susie Ahern (John Farnham/Kylie Minogue/Renee Geyer) and acclaimed Melbourne Jazz pianists Steve and Bob Sedergreen, leading to her performing debut in 2007. Since her debut, Hetty has regularly performed with many of Australia’s finest Jazz and Roots musicians, and is often invited to be a guest vocalist with big bands ‘The Pearly Shells’ (AU), ‘The B# Big Band’ (AU) and in Hong Kong ‘The Stray Katz’.
 

2011 has brought the summer release of three new records, one of which is her first straight-ahead jazz recording KISSING BUG, with NY luminaries Art Hirahara (piano) Tal Ronen (bass) and Dan Aran (drums). This EP showcases five of her favourite standards and gives a nod to the American Jazz Vocalists of the 1950’s. 11:60PM, the second album, is the sophomore release from her String Band with Australian guitarist Sam Lemann, The Irwell Street String Band. This quartet features guitar, ukulele, mandolin and double bass and has received much media interest since their first release in 2009 with radio airplay internationally including BBC Radio 2 (UK) and the ABC (AU). The final album to be launched is UH!OH! a retro inspired beatnik-surf-lounge creation from Hetty Kate’s six piece band The Twenty 20s with a line-up selected from Australia’s premier Roots, Jump Swing, Cajun and Zydeco musicians.
 

Continuing to travel, to sing with wonderful musicians and exploring vintage compositions and musical history is at the top of Hetty’s priorities for the coming years, and you will be able to see her perform at a selection of jazz festivals internationally in 2012. As jazz devotee and popular British Radio host Brian Harvey said “Hetty is based in Australia which is their massive good fortune and Britain’s loss. She has the most gently seductive “little girl” voice I’ve heard since first encountering the (then!) young Ella and June Christy. And she has a masterful way with lyrics, bringing them to vibrant and exciting life as if each were an expression of her own private thoughts….we’ll hear a lot more of Hetty Kate in the future.”