Primary Instrument: Vocal
Vocalist Christelle Durandy’s range as an artist transcends borders. She combines a collection of colors with a vast spectrum of Jazz, Latin, Caribbean and Soul influences. Christelle Durandy is committed to lyricism and musicality; her love for words and languages rhythmic concepts rings with authenticity.
The new project Christelle Durandy Cinq TêTeS, is a unique mosaic that draws upon a rich variety of material, showcasing her songwriting and composing proficiency. Christelle also heads Dos Cabezas, a duet with pianist Nicki Denner.
Preserving her jazz stylings, Christelle brings her talent to diverse projects. She has been featured on Paul Carlon Octet, Max Pollak ‘RumbaTap’, the all-female Latin collective CoCoMaMa, Chiemi Nakai ‘Sabrosongo’ and Vocalenssia, a potent vocal combination with singer Sofia Tosello in which Christelle exhibits her talent as both a performer and arranger. Her singing and hand-drumming have graced the bandstands with Edward Perez, Paula West and George Mesterhaze quartet, Carlos “El Bola” Betancourt, Nicki Denner septet, Bujo Kevin Jones, Jo Benotti, Barbaro Teuntor Garcia, Mayra Casales, Company Erebe-Kouliballets, Baptiste Trotignon, Yvan Montoya y Son del Fuego, Pepe Vasquez, just to name a few. Christelle has emerged as a stunningly impressive, charismatic performer; she has continually garnered critical praise for her passionate live performances and mesmerized audiences worldwide.
Christelle is currently working on the first opus of Christelle Durandy QuAtRes TêTeS, ‘Face to Face’.
New York based, Christelle Durandy began to perform at an early age with her family-based troupe in France. She is of Reunion Island and French West Indies ancestry. Christelle grew up exposed to a wealth of music thanks to the broad collection of discs of her parents. Under their guidance, she honed in on musical skills that she later developed during her apprenticeship in France, Cuba, Spain and The U.S.
”The aperture in her voicing has a luxuriating Brazilian-tint that adds an alluring coating to the tribal sprints...” Jazzreview.com, 2008
”The timbre and temperament of Durandy's voice has that rare quality of being able to transport the listener to an ethereal place”. Dimitry Ekshtut - Jazz Improv Magazine, January 2009
