Kurt Elling is a two-time GRAMMY Award winner who is renowned for a signature, rich sound and an inventive and individualized body of work. With a one-of-a kind brand of contemporary beat lyricism and vocalese-writing ingenuity, the Chicago-based musician has extended the parameters of vocal jazz and enlarged its vocabulary. The New York Times called Kurt Elling “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time.” The Guardian (UK) pronounced him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.” Over a twenty-five-year career of touring and recording, Elling has won three Prix du Jazz Vocal (France), two German Echo Awards, two Dutch Edison Awards, and has been nominated for a GRAMMY Award sixteen times. He has had a 14-year run atop the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls and has won twelve Jazz Journalists Awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year”. Elling’s work with other leading figures in the jazz world has included important collaborations with Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch, Charlie Hunter and Stefon Harris. He has also performed as a featured soloist with many of the world’s leading large ensembles, including the NY Philharmonic, The BBC Concert Symphony, The Count Basie Orchestra, The WDR Big Band and Orchestra, The Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, and The Village Vanguard Orchestra.
Christian Sands is a Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and Mack Avenue recording artist celebrated for his virtuosic technique, lyrical sensitivity, and genre-defying creativity. A former prodigy and graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Sands rose to prominence as a key member of bassist Christian McBride’s trio, quickly establishing himself as a major voice in modern jazz. His latest album, Embracing Dawn, showcases his evolving artistry with powerful original compositions that blend tradition with forward-thinking innovation. Known for his captivating live performances—whether in solo settings, trio formats, or with jazz legends—Sands combines swing, gospel, blues, and modern influences with soul and precision.
Kurt Elling – Vocals; Christian Sands – Piano