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Kate Kortum
Jazz Coterie presents rising star vocalist Kate Kortum — winner of this year’s Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition.
Kate Kortum is a 24-year-old breakout jazz vocalist from Houston, Texas, whose warm, distinctive sound blends bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theatre with captivating, story-driven lyrics. Her artistry bridges tradition and innovation, offering audiences a fresh, contemporary take on the jazz vocal legacy.
“Kortum’s music has an old soul but a young heart. She takes big liberties on every swinging little number and those interpretative skills make her familiar music sound fresh.”
Kortum discovered her passion for music at Houston’s legendary High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she studied flute and saxophone before ultimately falling in love with singing. She went on to earn a degree in jazz voice from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School, studying with some of the leading voices in modern jazz.
“Hailed for her warm, distinctive sound that blends the blues, bebop and Broadway.”
Her debut album, Good Woman reimagines jazz standards originally written by men, reclaiming them through bold arrangements and a distinctly female perspective. The album struck a chord with listeners, surpassing one million streams in its first month and now boasting over 3.5 million streams. Critics have praised her ability to revitalize the tradition with authenticity and daring.
In just a few years, Kortum has performed on some of the most iconic stages in jazz, including the Newport Jazz Festival, SXSW, Birdland, Blue Note, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club, and Jazz at Lincoln Center with the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Her collaborations include working with Cyrille Aimée, Bryan Carter, Peter Bernstein, Emmet Cohen, and Wynton Marsalis. A recipient of multiple DownBeat Magazine and National YoungArts awards, she continues to solidify her place as one of the most exciting young voices in jazz.
“When you hear her sing—look out. She’s able to tell a story through her music, and it makes everyone around her want to stop and listen.”
Kortum’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Wild Woman, further showcases her daring musicality and singular voice in the contemporary jazz landscape. As a sequel to her first project, the album is an expansion on the themes of taking back music written by men about the female perspective. It explores what Kortum has been passionate about in the two years between the records - songs about obsession, promiscuity, self-pride, and hatred. Feelings women are often told to shy away from. Kortum pushes the boundaries of traditional vocal jazz through this recording.
With her combination of virtuosity, interpretative depth, and a forward-thinking approach to the jazz tradition, Kate Kortum is redefining what it means to be a modern jazz vocalist.