Every Kurt Elling album is nominated for a Grammy Award. And it's easy to understand why he is praised by all and sundry as one of the best jazz vocalists of this era. Elling is gifted with a beautiful baritone that puts him miles ahead of others. He is a master of improvising without words (scatting) singing poetic texts to existing jazz solos (or vocalese) and is equally at home with modern compositions and traditional repertoire. This versatility is also reflected in the artists he works with. The list is long, diverse and impressive, ranging from Terence Blanchard to Dave Brubeck and from Al Jarreau to Kurt Rosenwinkel. His repertoire is just as varied, ranging from The Beatles to Herbie Hancock, and from Miles Davis to Stevie Wonder. This year he can be heard performing at North Sea Jazz, together with the Charlie Hunter Trio.
