Judy Carmichael

Grammy-nominated pianist and vocalist/songwriter/radio host, Judy Carmichael, is one of the world’s leading interpreters of stride and swing piano. Count Basie nicknamed her “Stride,” for conquering this technically and physically demanding early jazz piano style and celebrated jazz writer, Gary Giddins sagely observed the ironic fact that “the last man standing, in this private, competitive domain, is a woman.” Pianist. Singer. Songwriter. Raconteuse. “Peggy Lee meets Fats Waller meets Paula Poundstone.” -- Newsday

America’s Jazz Times says: “Judy Carmichael exhibits a truly remarkable ability to channel Peggy Lee's breathy invitingness and her befogged insouciance. Additionally, she echoes the intense perspicacity of the solo albums of Annie Ross. In other words, Judy winningly blends two of the all-time finest, most intuitive jazz singers.”

Judy has taken this infectious style of music and her equally infectious personality everywhere from posh nightclubs in Paris and Melbourne to Carnegie Hall and a Rio concert for ten thousand Brazilians; from Arundel Castle--where she shared the stage with Leslie Garrett and the London Philharmonic—to Castle Fraser for the National Trust of Scotland at the behest of longtime fan, Sir Cameron Mackintosh.

Judy has been featured on A Prairie Home Companion, NPR’s Morning Edition, Entertainment Tonight, CBS' Sunday Morning, CNN’s Business Unusual, Mornings with Margaret Throsby for the Australia Broadcast Corporation, Jo Soares in Brazil, and the BBC’s Loose Ends, In Tune, Up All Night, Woman’s Hour and numerous other shows.

Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired, which Judy hosts, produces and created, will celebrate twenty-five years on NPR stations across the country in 2025. The show podcasts everywhere but Mars, although it might be there too. Judy has written two books on stride piano and numerous articles about jazz. Her memoir, Swinger! A Jazz Girl’s Adventures from Hollywood to Harlem was published in January 2018 and her book, Great Inspirations: 22 Years of Jazz Inspired on NPR was published in September 2022.

Judy Carmichael is included in The Encyclopedia of Jazz, Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists, Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in Finance and Industry in America, "Who's Who in American Woman, American Women in Jazz, Who's Who in the World, as well as the Encyclopedia of Jazz and is one of the few jazz pianists honored as a Steinway Artist.