Carmen Lundy occupies a rare position in the jazz vocal tradition: she is not only a singer of consequence, but a composer, bandleader, and visual artist whose work has helped redefine what a jazz vocalist can be.
She’s a dynamic live performer - rhythmically flexible, emotionally direct, and deeply connected to the bandstand tradition - and she’s a mentor to young talent. Over the years, she has worked with and given meaningful opportunities to musicians who have gone on to have their own significant careers.
What perhaps distinguishes Lundy most clearly from many of her peers is her commitment to original music. At a time when jazz singers were often defined by their interpretations of the Great American Songbook, Lundy built a reputation as a prolific songwriter, creating a catalog of deeply personal, harmonically sophisticated material.
Her albums have frequently appeared in critics’ polls and have earned Grammy nominations. She is an NEA Jazzmaster.
Lundy moved to New York from her Florida home in the late 1970s - a move that helped to launch her onto the global scene. She recently spoke with Janis Siegel and Lezlie Harrison for WBGO’s Singer’s Unlimited and told the story of her first trip to the city.
You can hear the full Singers Unlimited interview here.
