ABOUT
"In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance." —JazzTimes
When a celebration is called for, Clairdee often gets the call. The vivacious San Francisco-based jazz vocalist inaugurated the beautiful new North Beach nightspot Keys Jazz Bistro in November 2022, turning an anticipated event into a glorious consecration.
In a career spanning some four decades, she's performed similar benedictions around the world as an internationally touring artist who's collaborated with some of America's most celebrated jazz masters, including Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Cyrus Chestnut, Russell Malone, and Ken Peplowski.
Deeply informed by the music's departed masters, Clairdee puts a personal stamp on whatever she sings, a gift aptly described by the inimitable Nancy Wilson, who declared that "in the tradition of all great vocalists she infuses each song with her own unique style while always remaining true to the song itself." Equally at home singing various idioms in an array of settings, Clairdee has worked with symphony orchestras, big bands, small jazz combos, and intimate duos, in addition to leading her own world-class band.
Clairdee’s discography as leader includes four highly regarded albums on her Declare Music label. “A Love Letter to Lena,” garnered international press and was acknowledged in three categories in the 2020 Grammy® first round nominations.
A 2018 recipient of the Bay Area Jazz & Blues Artist Lifetime Achievement Award, Clairdee is a passionate advocate for music education: Professor of Jazz Voice, San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Teaching Artist, SFJAZZ and San Francisco Symphony; Board member, Bay Area Jazz Mobile and Independent Musicians Alliance; Artist Advisory Member and mentor, Jazz in the Neighborhood.
My purpose is to engage, uplift and build community through music — creating narrative that inspires beyond the stage.
Quotes
“In the tradition of all great vocalists, Clairdee infuses each song with her own unique style while always remaining true to the song itself.”
— Nancy Wilson
"Sumptuous, elegantly restrained."
— The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland)
"Generous spirit and unpretentious sincerity"
— Down Beat
"Clairdee projects an unmistakable aura onstage — regaling the audience with songs interwoven with warm, humorous anecdotes — creating a seamless, wonderful tapestry."
—All About Jazz
“In sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance."
—JazzTimes
News
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Gallery
John Levy: Mentor, manager, friend, and gentleman of the highest order.
Legendary songstylist Nancy Wilson: Mentor and role model after our 1-on-1 interview at Monterey Jazz Festival
Congrats from Miss Nancy Wilson
Billy Higgins: Mentor and friend. HUGE heart, generous spirit.
Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli
Dee Dee Bridgewater, shares life lessons and other great stories.
Charles McPherson, saxophonist
Russell Malone & Houston Person
Singers Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., & Nicole Henry
Jamie Foxx, actor, singer, comedian
Kids: I LOVE working with kids!
Singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs
Esperanza Spalding, bassist, composer, educator
Regina Carter, violinist, MacArthur Fellow
Gerald Clayton, composer, pianist, bandleader
Patti Austin, singer
Regina Carter and legendary Roy McCurdy
Marian McPartland, pianist, composer, radio host
Norman Simmons, Paul West, Bernard Purdie. Learning from the masters.
Freda Payne, singer
Arsenio Hall, comedian, actor
Terence Blanchard, trumpeter, composer, educator
Dianne Reeves, singer and excellent cook. We're both from Denver!
Ken Peplowski, clarinetist, bandleader, funny man!
Johnny O'Neal, pianist
Ruth Davies: Talented bassist and best friend
Earl Klugh, guitarist, songwriter
Valerie Noble, celebrity hair and make-up artist
James Ingram, singer, composer, pianist
Amina Figarova, pianist, composer
Henry Johnson, guitarist-singer
Ivan Lins, singer, pianist, composer
Nnenna Freelon, vocalist, songwriter, playwright
Richard Bona, bassist, singer, composer.
Rebecca Parris, singer
Sheila Jordan, vocalist and fellow Scorpio!
Dr. Herb Wong: Mentor, friend; nonpareil jazz historian and producer.
Dena DeRose, pianist and vocalist.
Taylor Eigsti, pianist, composer
Paula West, singer
Trombone Shorty, multi-instrumentalist, energetic entertainer
Todd Gordon, UK-based crooner
Herlin Riley: Drumming never sounded SO good.
Charles Brown, singer-pianist, sharing stories in Mexico.
Bud Spangler: Producer, drummer, radio personality
Benny Green, pianist
Paulette McWilliams, singer-songwriter
Jay Leonhart, bassist and humorist
Denise Perrier, singer
Bill Strickland, ceramicist, community leader, author, and CEO of the non-profit Manchester Bidwell Corporation.
Dr. Kim Nalley, singer
Carmen Bradford, vocalist
Dana Goia, poet and writer, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Gil Gross, journalist & radio personality
Allen Farnham, pianist (left), and reed man Charles McNeal
Broadway star Barbara Cook and pianist Ted Rosenthal
Dan Ouellette, noted music journalist and biographer
Dmitri Matheny, flugelhornist, composer
A Scott Galloway, noted music journalist
Bill Charlap, pianist
Monty Alexander (left), Ken French (right)
L Peter Callender, actor, director
Armistead Maupin, writer
Rehearsal with Dick Hyman
Houston Person, soulful sax man
Maestro Yaacov Bergman
Jamie Davis, vocalist
Tammi Brown, vocalist
Billy Valentine, vocalist