It was no accident that the Dutch public broadcaster Radio 6 recently chose Kris Berry as its first Soul & Jazz Talent. The jazz singer, with her scintillating mix of Caribbean sounds, vivacious country and swinging rhythm & blues, is a rising star. Berry was born in 1982 on Curacao, where at an early age she discovered the captivating effect of music. Her idols included Patsy Cline and Nina Simone. After high school, Berry moved to Barcelona where the many street musicians strengthened her growing love for jazz music. Once she arrived in the Netherlands, the singer began writing her own songs. Since then she has extended her repertoire enormously and she has recorded an EP (released this spring) with guitarist Paul Willemsen (Zuco 103), percussionist Claus Tofft (Giovanca) and double bass player Jet Stevens (Beans & Fatback). At the North Sea Jazz Festival the young singer will definitely instill a summer feeling in her audience.
