Close Encounter: Gretchen Parlato Vocal Workshop

Close Encounter_ Gretchen Parlato from Melbourne Int Jazz Fes on Vimeo.

Gretchen Parlato treated audiences of this Close Encounter to an intimate workshop and discussion surrounding her practice as a vocalist and performer.

Hailed as the most important jazz singer since Cassandra Wilson, Gretchen Parlato is the kind of artist that comes along once in a generation.

Her 20-year career has seen her work with powerhouses of the contemporary jazz world, including Wayne Shorter, Kenny Barron, Esperanza Spalding, Terence Blanchard and living jazz treasure Herbie Hancock.

Renowned for her subtle, yet masterful command over her vocal instrument, sultry, sensual vocals dominate her performance. With delicate phrasing and a unique ability to transform jazz standards with her inventive and playful interpretations, she fuses jazz with undertones of African and Brazilian beats to create a distinct and intoxicating contemporary jazz aesthetic.

In Parlato’s words “my voice is my instrument” and she aims to perform “in an emotional way that speaks to every listener”.