Artist Style: Soloists

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer, and actor Byron Stripling ignites audiences across the globe. Stripling has become a symphony favorite throughout the country and has performed with well over 100 orchestras around the world.

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer, and actor Byron Stripling ignites audiences across the globe. In 2020, Stripling was named Principal Pops Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and in 2024, he was named Principal Pops Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also currently serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Stripling’s baton has led countless orchestras throughout the United States and Canada, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood and the orchestras of San Diego, St. Louis, Virginia, Toronto, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Fort Worth, Rochester, Buffalo, Florida, Portland, and Sarasota, to name a few.

As a soloist with the Boston Pops, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being the featured soloist on the PBS television special, Evening at Pops, with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart. Currently, Stripling serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with over 100 orchestras around the world, including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and orchestras throughout Europe and Asia. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at festivals around the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen, following a worldwide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway-bound musical, Satchmo. Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue to Broadway.

Television viewers have enjoyed his work as a soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs including 20/20, CNN, and soundtracks of favorite movies. In addition to multiple recordings with his quintet and work with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, his prolific recording career includes hundreds of albums with the greatest pop, Broadway, soul, and jazz artists of all time.

Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton, in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All-Star Big Band.

Stripling is devoted to giving back and supports several philanthropic organizations, including The United Way and homelessness advocacy, as well as The Community Shelter Board. He also enjoys sharing the power of music through seminars and master classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools. His informative talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages.

Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. One of his greatest joys is to return periodically to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, Stripling lives in the country with his wife, Alexis, a former dancer, writer, and poet, and their beautiful daughters.

Shayna Steele is one of a kind! This dynamic vocalist puts new meaning to diversity and grassroots talent. Shayna’s natural ability to traverse musical genres, be it in the studio, on the stage, or on the screen, has kept her on the A-list of in-demand singers across the industry. Her effortless execution of soul, rock, pop and jazz continues to grab the attention of audiences around the world.

This dynamic vocalist puts new meaning to diversity and grassroots talent. Shayna Steele’s natural ability to traverse musical genres, be it in the studio, on the stage, or on the screen, has kept her on the A-list of in-demand singers in the industry. Shayna’s effortless execution of both soul and jazz has grabbed the attention of audiences globally, be it Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival with Snarky Puppy, or the hundreds of symphony orchestras throughout North America.

Shayna’s creative abilities explode across multiple genres, highlighted by her original signature sound. Her mature songwriting abilities are dynamically evident, as heard through her infusion of soul, jazz, and blues.

In 2023, Shayna debuted her solo symphony show, American Diva, with the prestigious Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Grammy-winning conductor and composer Mr. Jeff Tyzik, who arranged her music and favorite covers. Shayna has performed as the guest soloist with over 100 North American symphony orchestras, such as the Dallas Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where she debuted her solo blues program, Nothin’ But the Blues, with Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor Jeff Tyzik.

Throughout her career, Shayna has lent her talent to leading artists such as Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti and Moby, whose tracks Raining Again, Disco Lies, and Extreme Ways featured Shayna’s blockbuster vocals. Snarky Puppy’s Michael League handpicked Shayna’s original track, Gone Under, for inclusion in their huge hit Family Dinner, Volume 1 album (Ropeadope Records), which has become a viral sensation with over 2 million views and countless covers from musicians globally. No stranger to both the small and silver screens, Shayna has sung on the soundtracks of Hairspray, The Bourne Identity, and Sex and the City 2, as well as making a guest appearance on The Sopranos! Shayna recently made an appearance in two episodes of the Marvel series Penguin, starring Colin Farrell on MAX.

Shayna has appeared in the smash hit musical RENT, as well as Jesus Christ Superstar, and her original role in the massive Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray.

She has provided background vocals for artists such as Bette Midler, Rihanna, and Kelly Clarkson, along with countless other A-list stars. After going solo, writing, and putting her band together, Shayna has released four studio albums, with her second album RISE reaching #2 on the U.S. iTunes jazz charts and #1 on the international jazz charts.

Shayna holds a music degree from the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Interdisciplinary Music Studies and teaches private vocalists virtually. Shayna has also been a guest for many college masterclasses and workshops globally.

Visit www.shaynasteele.com for more info.

American Soprano Alyson Cambridge is One of the Most Diverse and Compelling Vocal Artists on the Scene Today.

American soprano Alyson Cambridge is one of the most diverse and compelling vocal artists on the scene today. Praised for her “powerful, clear voice” (The New York Times), hailed for her “radiant, vocally assured, dramatically subtle and artistically imaginative” performances (Washington Post), and celebrated for her “sultry and seductive readings” (Opera News), Alyson is known for her unique versatility and range. Combined with a striking stage presence and affecting musical and dramatic interpretation, she has over two decades of success with the world’s leading symphonies, orchestras, Opera and Broadway stages including: Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, The Philly Pops, Buffalo Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony,  Cleveland Pops, Youngstown Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Lake Forest Symphony, Madison Symphony, Portland Symphony (ME), Omaha Symphony, The Metropolitan Opera, Royal Albert Hall London, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, and many more.  Her warm soprano shines in musical theater classics such as The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Show Boat, Oklahoma! and Porgy and Bess, but is equally at home interpreting jazz and pop standards. Her signature operatic title roles in Carmen, Tosca, as well as countless performances as both Mimi and Musetta in La boheme and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, have made her a darling of the opera world for decades.  She has three critically acclaimed albums:  Until Now (jazz, pop and musical theater); Sisters In Song (classical song, spirituals and operatic duets); and From the Diary of Sally Hemings (a 21^st century modern song cycle).  In addition to her illustrious singing career, Alyson also enjoys work as a model, in television and film, and in dedicating time to philanthropic causes close to her heart.

Kelly LeVesque’s powerful voice and dynamic stage presence have led her to perform as a soloist on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and Madison Square Garden. Throughout her career, Kelly has shared the stage with dynamic artists such as Sting, Andrea Bocelli, and John Legend, showcasing her unique versatility and appeal.

Kelly Levesque (pronounced Le-Vek) is a New York-born singer-songwriter whose musical journey began at just three years old when her musician father recorded her first notes in the studio. Since then, her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence have led her to perform as a soloist on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, The Kennedy Center, Budokan, Madison Square Garden, the Staples Center, and The White House.

Throughout her career, Kelly has shared the stage with dynamic artists such as Sting, Jamie Foxx, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton, Smokey Robinson, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and many more.

With a major label debut on Reprise/Warner Brothers Records at the age of 18, Kelly launched her international recording and touring career. She has earned two Top 5 Billboard Classical Crossover albums—one as part of the trio Three Graces and another as part of Diane Warren’s duet project Due Voci.

Kelly has had the honor of performing for international royalty, four U.S. Presidents, and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Guided by her belief in creating Music With Meaning, Kelly uses her voice as a vehicle for change. Her original song Never Forever was written to raise awareness and funds for victims of domestic violence, supported by the Miss America Organization and nonprofit Safe Horizon as part of their #PutTheNailInIt campaign. Another of her philanthropic works, I Won’t Let You Down, was a song Kelly wrote and gifted to the KNOWAutism Foundation to support children and families affected by autism.

Kelly’s voice can be heard on several film and television soundtracks, including America’s Sweethearts starring Julia Roberts, and the title track of the latest Inspector Gadget series. She is also a featured vocalist on numerous national television and radio commercials.

Currently, Kelly is channeling her creativity into a new dramatic musical (for which there are Tony-winning producers attached!), writing the music, lyrics, and book alongside her husband, multi-platinum and Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Fraser Walters.

To learn more and connect with Kelly, visit: www.KellyL.com

With his throwback voice, tailored sense of style, and twinkle-in-his-eye personality, Paul Loren’s captivating stage presence and immense vocal talent have won over major fans and devotees around the world. At a young age, Paul fell deeply in love with the classic sounds of New York oldies radio and the Great American Songbook, and, to date, his music has been streamed tens of millions of times while his original songs can be heard in major motion pictures, television shows, and ad campaigns.

At a young age, singer-songwriter Paul Loren fell in love with the classic sounds of New York oldies radio and the Great American Songbook. With his throwback voice, tailored sense of style, and twinkle-in-his-eye personality, Paul has since won over fans and devotees around the world.

Loren launched his solo career in early 2014 with a string of sold-out shows in New York City at the famed venue Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, accompanied by his ‘One-Night Only Band’. His first solo single, All By Myself, released in 2015, was supported by SiriusXM and terrestrial radio stations in markets such as Nashville, Seattle, Charleston, and Philadelphia.

During this time, Paul was personally selected by Jennifer Lopez to perform at her birthday gala in Las Vegas. He appeared on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, partnered with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation, performed at the legendary STAX Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, and recorded in the world-renowned Sun Studio. Paul and his band have been permanent fixtures at storied venues such as The Rainbow Room, the Dinah Shore residence in Palm Springs, Cipriani, and Hotel Chelsea in NYC, the SLS Hotel in Las Vegas, and performance halls from Rio de Janeiro to Rome.

He has opened for and supported touring artists including: The Temptations, singer-songwriter Brendan James, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, folk singer and guitarist David Bromberg, British soul singer James Hunter, and has shared the stage with Paul Shaffer, Queen Latifah, Christie Brinkley, and food personality Giada De Laurentiis. Showcasing his unique style and sound, Loren has partnered with many legacy brands, including Cartier, Target, Squarespace, Campari, and Nordstrom.

Since 2018, Paul has performed with orchestras across the U.S. and Canada, leading pops shows with a diverse repertoire including Legends: The Paul Simon Songbook, both The Beatles’ Revolution and Twist and Shout, and Back to the 80’s.

Launching his own orchestra show, Come Swing With Me! in 2024, Paul is able to bring his first love of American Songbook standards and mid-century Big Band music to the symphony stage, sharing timeless classics by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and his original music with audiences across the country.

Currently based in Nashville, Tennessee, Paul continues to write and record his own material, alongside producing music for other artists at his studio, Realtone Ranch. To date, his music has been streamed tens of millions of times, and his songs can be heard in major motion pictures, television shows, and ad campaigns.

Chester Gregory is an award-winning Broadway actor, singer, and recording artist, renowned for his extraordinary vocal talent, commanding stage presence, and deep emotional resonance. Known for blending soul, storytelling, and precision, Chester brings authenticity to every performance, whether delivering an electrifying showstopper or a heartfelt ballad.

Chester Gregory is an award-winning Broadway actor, singer, and recording artist, renowned for his extraordinary vocal talent, commanding stage presence, and deep emotional resonance. With starring roles in iconic productions such as Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Sister Act, Disney’s Tarzan, and Motown: The Musical, Chester has become a dynamic force in musical theater and live performances, captivating audiences with a unique energy that resonates across both grand Broadway stages and intimate concert settings.

His breakthrough role as legendary singer Jackie Wilson in The Jackie Wilson Story earned him widespread acclaim and a personal standing ovation from Michael Jackson. Known for blending soul, storytelling, and precision, Chester brings authenticity to every performance, whether delivering an electrifying showstopper or a heartfelt ballad.

A recipient of the NAACP Theatre Award, Joseph Jefferson Award, and Black Theatre Alliance Award, Chester has performed across the U.S., gaining recognition not only for his vocal abilities but also for his emotional depth and stage presence. His influence extends beyond live performances through his social media, where he engages millions, sharing his artistic journey, humor, and passion for wellness.

Chester Gregory is available for theatrical performances, symphonic collaborations, special events, and concerts. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, he ensures every performance is an unforgettable experience.

Chester’s social media presence reaches millions across platforms, where he shares humor, wellness, and the arts. Stay connected with Chester on social media @chestergregory for updates, and visit ChesterGregory.com for more information.

With extensive experience across prestigious stages around the world, Mamie Parris’ versatility and artistry truly set her apart in both the symphony and Broadway worlds. Originally trained as a coloratura soprano, Mamie is now universally recognized as one of Broadway’s preeminent belters, delivering nuanced performances that breathe new life into even the most familiar scores and songs.

Mamie Parris has developed a diverse and unique body of work throughout her extensive career. In addition to appearances with symphony orchestras across the continent, including the Rochester Philharmonic, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and the Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras, her one-woman cabaret, Surrender: An Andrew Lloyd Webber Thrill Ride, was awarded the Best of the City by Time Out New York. Best known on Broadway for her one-of-a-kind rendition of the iconic Memory, she is no stranger to the work of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, having starred as Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats, as Rosalie (closing cast) and Patty (opening cast) in Broadway’s School of Rock, and in the US premiere of the Lloyd Webber retrospective Unmasked. Other Broadway appearances include the Tony-nominated revivals of Ragtime, 110 In The Shade, and On The 20th Century, as well as the Tony-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone.

Her film and television credits include The Blacklist, State of Affairs, A Standup Guy, and PBS Great Performances: 50 Years of Broadway’s Best. Across the country, she appeared as Elphaba in the First National Tour of fan-favorite Wicked, as well as performing with the touring companies of Legally Blonde and Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5. Originally trained as a coloratura soprano, today she is considered one of Broadway’s preeminent belters, employing her versatile technique to create nuanced performances of even the best-known scores and songs. Her credits include roles at The Goodspeed Opera House, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, the Old Globe, the St. Louis Muny, the Macau International Music Festival, and more. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mamie attended the Paseo Academy of the Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She resides in New York City with her husband, Johnathan, and their Shih Tzu, Cookie.

Hailing from the storied musical grounds of Macon, Georgia, Rick Brantley was raised on a steady diet of Southern gospel, gritty blues, and classic rock ’n’ roll. Rick has firmly carved out his place in the music scene, earning a reputation as a magnetic performer with a storyteller’s soul. A true multi-hyphenate, Brantley has expanded his creative reach beyond songwriting and performance, producing critically acclaimed records and directing strikingly creative music videos.

Hailing from the storied musical grounds of Macon, Georgia, Rick Brantley was raised on a steady diet of Southern gospel, gritty blues, and classic rock ’n’ roll. From the hymns echoing in his father’s Southern Baptist church to the raw energy of barroom stages, music wasn’t just a passion — it was the language of his world.

By his late teens, Brantley had already begun carving out his place in the music scene, earning a reputation as a magnetic performer with a storyteller’s soul. A move to Nashville solidified his footing as a sought-after songwriter, penning songs for a diverse roster of artists, including Ruston Kelly, The White Buffalo, Meat Loaf, and David Nail. But Brantley wasn’t content to stay behind the scenes — he was made for the road.

Over the next decade, Brantley toured relentlessly, building a loyal following across the U.S. and Europe. He shared the stage with artists as varied as John Hiatt, Brandy Clark, Zac Brown, and Kiefer Sutherland, while also headlining his own shows from Ontario to Hamburg, Los Angeles to NYC, and back again.

A true multi-hyphenate, Brantley has expanded his creative reach beyond songwriting and performance. He’s produced critically acclaimed records for longtime collaborators like Rob Baird and Justin Halpin, and directed a number of strikingly creative music videos. His versatility as both an artist and a craftsman has become a hallmark of his career.

In 2022, Brantley relocated to Brooklyn, New York, releasing his EP “BLUE” — a bold sonic departure that embraced lush string arrangements and cinematic textures, thanks to producer Bryan Dawley. The project marked a new chapter, both musically and geographically.

That same year, Brantley entered the world of pops symphony collaborations, working with renowned conductor and composer Jeff Tyzik on Country Hits: Songs From Nashville, a genre-celebrating symphonic concert experience that continues to tour nationally. He also appears in pops shows Revolution and Twist & Shout, and will debut in Sounds of Laurel Canyon in 2025.

Now, nearly two decades into his career, Rick Brantley remains a tireless creator — one who thrives at the intersection of tradition and evolution, roots and ambition, soul and showmanship.

“This is it. This is what I always wanted to do: create something and share it with people,” he says. “The fact that I still get to do it almost 20 years later is crazy. Crazy good.”

For Grace Leer, country music has always been personal as her journey has been rooted in storytelling, grit, and heart. After finishing in the Top 10 on American Idol, her debut EP showcased her songwriting chops and powerful vocals, while viral hits like My Mind’s Made Up and Best Friend for Life have earned her millions of fans on social media.

For Grace Leer, country music has always been personal. From singing Wide Open Spaces at nine years old to finishing in the Top 10 on American Idol, her journey has been rooted in storytelling, grit, and heart. A former Division 1 soccer player and UC Berkeley grad, Grace brings that same work ethic to her music career — blending ‘90s country influences with modern flair. Her debut EP showcased her songwriting chops and powerful vocals, while viral hits like My Mind’s Made Up and Best Friend for Life earned her millions of fans on social media.

In 2023, Grace made her acting debut in the Blake Shelton-produced Hallmark film Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas, which featured her original holiday song Star on Top of the Tree. Now an independent artist, she continues to make waves with her latest single Wine and Whiskey, national tour dates, and her ongoing cooking series Taste with Grace. With a voice full of soul and lyrics packed with honesty, Grace Leer is proving she’s here to stay. Represented by Red Light Management and Empire Distribution.

With her body of work, which reflects her vast experience, versatility, and technical brilliance, world renowned vocalist Carmen Bradford, a 2024 GRAMMY winner, has carved out her place in jazz history and continues to contribute to the preservation of this uniquely American art form.

Carmen Bradford is jazz royalty – A 2024 Grammy Award winner for Basie Swings the Blues – the Count Basie Orchestra. She has been nominated five times for Grammy Awards and is the recipient of the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Jazz Vocalist Award. With her body of work, which reflects her vast experience, versatility, and technical brilliance, she has carved out her place in jazz history, and she continues to contribute to the preservation of this uniquely American art form.

Bradford was born in Austin, Texas, and raised in Altadena, California. The daughter of legendary cornetist and composer Bobby Bradford and world-renowned jazz vocalist, composer, and author Melba Joyce, and granddaughter of Melvin Moore (who sang with Lucky Millender and his Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band, and the Ink Spots), Bradford grew up with music in her home and in her heart.

She was discovered and hired by William Count Basie when she was just 22; she went on to be the featured vocalist with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for nine years and has continued to perform with them regularly throughout her career. All four of her Grammy Award nominations are for albums with the Count Basie Orchestra, including two in the 1980s and a third, Big Boss Band, with guitarist George Benson. (She and Benson performed the classic duet, How Do You Keep the Music Playing, on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.) The fourth is 2022’s Live At Birdland.

In 1992, Bradford released her debut album Finally Yours (Evidence Records) to critical acclaim. In 1995, the release of her second solo album, With Respect (Evidence Records), established Bradford as one of jazz music’s most diverse and exciting vocal stylists.

Bradford has performed and/or recorded with Patti Austin, Tony Bennett, George Benson, Shelly Berg, James Brown, Benny Carter, Dori Caymmi, John Clayton and the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, Freddie Cole, Lena Horne, Kurt Elling, Wynton Marsalis, Jeremy Monteiro, David Murray, Willie Nelson, James Newton, Kenny Rankin, Lou Rawls, Doc Severinsen, Frank Sinatra, Byron Stripling, Tierney Sutton, Jeff Tyzik, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Liz Wright, and countless other artists around the world.

She has also performed and/or recorded with the Dallas Symphony, the Dani Felber Big Band, the Detroit Symphony, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the National Symphony, the Philadelphia Pops, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Vancouver Philharmonic, and many other organizations.

Bradford teamed with singer/composer Kenny Rankin for the Benny Carter Songbook Project, performing with him the duet, And All That Jazz. Other notable artists on the album include Ruth Brown, Jon Hendricks, Shirley Horn, Diana Krall, Peggy Lee, Diane Reeves, Bobby Short, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Liz Wright, and others. At the request of Benny Carter, Bradford also sang Key Largo on this Grammy Award-winning album.

Bradford’s 2004 release, Home With You (Azica Records), is a warm and beautiful collection of vocal and piano duets with jazz great Shelly Berg. In 2008, with the release of Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola: Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra featuring Carmen Bradford, Bradford returned to her big band roots. That recording ultimately brought her back to her first big band family, as well: She continues to tour with the Count Basie Orchestra, always grateful to Count Basie for opening the door for her. When the Count Basie Orchestra calls me, she says, I go.

The 2015 release of Invisible Design, with jazz great John Mills, showcases Bradford’s versatility. 2015 also saw the release of A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas with the Count Basie Orchestra (conducted by Scotty Barnhart). The album features Bradford, Ledisi, Ellis Marsalis, and Johnny Mathis.

In 2016, Bradford was the voice on the album Imagination Nation, a tribute to Nelson Mandela by South African trumpeter Darren English. This critically acclaimed album won the Pledge for Peace award from the Global Peace Song Awards and was named Best in Jazz.

The 2019 Grammy Award-nominated album, All About That Basie with the Count Basie Orchestra, conducted by Scotty Barnhart on Concord Records, features Bradford, Jamie Davis, Joey DeFrancesco, Kurt Elling, Jon Faddis, Wycliff Gordon, Stevie Wonder, and Take 6. In 2021, another Grammy Award-nominated album was released: Live At Birdland – the Count Basie Orchestra, conducted by Scotty Barnhart and featuring Bradford and Jamie Davis.

Bradford regularly pays tribute to the great Ella Fitzgerald with her show, A Century of Ella, created and conducted by jazz great Jeff Tyzik. With the incredible trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling, Bradford honors Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in their show, Ella and Louis, which consistently performs to rave reviews. Bradford has recently added a new show, Carmen Pays Tribute to the First Ladies of Song.

Bradford has loaned her inimitable voice to stage productions and the music of Hollywood films, cartoons for television and radio commercials, and the theater. She sang on the haunting soundtrack for Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved and starred in the title role of Duke Ellington’s Folk Opera, Queenie Pie, at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music.

As she tours and performs around the world, Bradford continues to sing multiple genres, from straight-ahead jazz to fusion to blues – and to sing as no one else can.

In 2017, Bradford’s gift for teaching and mentoring others inspired the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to recruit Bradford to serve as Vocalist in Residence and Director of the Jazz Voice Department in the school’s new Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM) Program.

In April 2024, Bradford joined the Michigan State University Jazz Studies Faculty as the new Associate Professor of Jazz Voice. Carmen Bradford is excited about teaching in the MSU Jazz Studies area after hearing the high quality of the student musicians when she visited as a guest artist in 2022.

Bradford is also CEO and Artistic Director of Carmen Bradford Productions, Inc., and an artist with Earthworks Audio. In 2017, she served as a panelist for AMPLIFY, part of the Emerging Black Composers Project (a partnership among the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), the San Francisco Symphony, and the SFCM President’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion). She was also a Governor of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy.

Bradford sings on the critically acclaimed 2023 release, Basie Swings the Blues on Candid Records. In addition to Bradford, this album features some of the greatest blues artists alive today, including George Benson, Castro “Mr. Sipp” Coleman, Shemekia Copeland, Robert Cray, Jamie Davie, Buddy Guy, Charlton Johnson, Betty LaVette, Ledisi, Keb’ Mo’, Charlie Musselwhite, and Bobby Rush.

Bradford’s body of work reflects jazz’s improvisation, creativity, and freedom. She looks forward to continuing her work to preserve this uniquely American art, so reflective of the cultural fabric of our country.