Primary Instrument: Vocal
SOUND AND STYLE
Jazz, cabaret and pop vocalist, Krisanthi Pappas, has been compared to Norah Jones and Diana Krall by JazzTimes Magazine. As well as her vocal gentleness, she has the husky-voiced passion of Bonnie Raitt and the swinging playfulness of Ella Fitzgerald. Her jazz songwriting style has been compared to Randy Newman (music of “Toy Story”,etc.), while her mellow pop songwriting is similar to Sarah McLachlan and Michael Buble.
PERFORMING
Based in the Boston-area, Krisanthi is a full-time entertainer playing an average of 150 performances a year at jazz concert series, festivals, resorts, clubs and private events throughout New England and New York City. Her most recent prestigious performance was for Governor Deval Patrick's Inaugural Celebration in January 2011. She has also performed throughout the U.S. and Caribbean and has opened for or shared the stage with such jazz greats as Branford Marsalis, Chuck Mangione, The Yellowjackets, Manhattan Transfer's Cheryl Bentyne, Kevin Mahogany, Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone as well as pop sensations The B- 52s. Krisanthi also plays piano and drums on some of her songs as well as writing her band's musical arrangements. Krisanthi has been the musical director and/or a performer for many benefits including the Faulkner Hospital Breast Center in Boston, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, The Relay For Life and others. Her Sister Friends For Life Concert featured herself with other acclaimed singers and many Boston radio personalities from WMJX and KISS 108.
INTERNATIONAL AIRPLAY You can hear Krisanthi singing her original music and lyrics on current episodes of NBC televison's “Parenthood” and ABC's “One Life To Live”, as well as having aired on NBC's “Passions” and HereTV's “The Lair”. You can also hear her performing her original song “One Slow Dance A Day” in the 2008 Mayon Film U.S. movie “Green River” and her song “If I Had Only Known” in the 2008 Lazy Susan Productions Canadian film “Tying The Not”. Her song “If I Had Only Known” is featured on the compilation CD distributed to the European subscribers of Jazz Magazine along with a full feature article in the March 2008 issue. Krisanthi’s CDs are played on jazz radio stations and programs throughout the Boston area and several states nationwide and in Canada as well as on many internet radio stations including Pandora, bandradiolive, acousticfuel and others.
SONGWRITING AWARDS
Krisanthi is the 2nd place Jazz Winner of the 2010 prestigious Billboard® World Song Contest and The Next Holiday Classic Song Contest for her song “You and Me by the Christmas Tree” as well as having been the 3rd place Billboard® winner in 2006 for her song “One Slow Dance A Day”. She also tied for 1st place in NYC’s Cabaret Hotline Members' Choice Songwriters' Favorite Song Award for her song “My Back Yard” and was an Honor Award winner in the 10th Annual Great American Song Contest for her song “You and Me by the Christmas Tree”. She has continued to receive songwriting awards from the ASCAP Popular Music Awards Panel every year since 1999 for her music and lyrics in jazz, cabaret and pop. Krisanthi’s songs are also performed live in her own concerts as well as by many other cabaret and jazz performers in New York City, Boston and Washington DC.
RECORDING
Krisanthi’s most recent CD “You and Me by the Christmas Tree”, features her jazz and pop arrangements of holiday classics along with two new songs that she wrote. Her other CDs, “My Back Yard”, “A Centennial Tribute To George and Ira Gershwin” and a live recording of her show, “Celebratin' Swing”, are a mix of her jazzy arrangements of classic songs as well as her heartfelt original songs. Krisanthi's CDs and digital downloads on iTunes, etc. have been purchased by fans in Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Brazil, Spain, Japan, Australia, Canada and throughout the U.S. They have received many impressive press reviews and continue to sell thousands of copies, receiving air play and high accolades on radio stations nationwide and in Canada.
Awards:
2008 Billboard World Song Contest 2nd Place Jazz Winner, 2006 Billboard World Song Contest 3rd Place Jazz Winner, 2010 The Next Holiday Classic 2nd Place Winner, 2006 1st Place Winner of NYC’s Cabaret Hotline Members' Choice Songwriters' Favorite Song Award“The title suggests this Boston-based jazz singer is peddling romantic yuletide slush. Not so. That charming original song the album is named after and secular holiday favorites like ”Let it Snow!” benefit from a lovely voice imbued with a freshness of spirit. Not always a wholesome Santa's helper, she flaunts a sensual side making over “Rudolph The Red- Nosed Reindeer” as a blues. Pappas only disappoints when she hushes up so her efficient sidemen can solo.” - Frank- John Hadley, Downbeat Magazine
“Boston’s Krisanthi Pappas clearly has the glow of Christmas in her sensual voice on “You and Me by the Christmas Tree”, featuring lightly jazzy versions of standard Christmas fare plus the original title cut. This is my choice for guests-have- gone, children-are-asleep, fire-is-just-embers music. It’s for you and your honey - if you’re in love this disc will get lots of spins.” - Dr. Christmas, Gerry Grzyb, WRST-FM Radio and Appleton Post Crescent, Oshkosh WI
“Not only is Krisanthi Pappas one of our most talented and finest interpreters of the Great America Songbook on the current scene, but her lovely and heartfelt original composition “You and Me by the Christmas Tree” proves that she can also write a beautiful song with the best of them! I hope in the future we have a chance to hear more of Krisanthi's originals as well as all the wonderful standards she has given us thru the years.” Ron Della Chiesa WGBH,Boston WPLM, Plymouth
Krisanthi Pappas writes elegant lyrics which seem so simple and accessible. That’s an art in itself, to make it all seem so easy. Her vocals, too, just pour out like liquid sunshine. It’s a mystery why a country western star like Bonnie Raitt hasn’t scooped up “My Back Yard.” - Beverly Creasey, Theater Mirror, BACA Songwriter’s Showcase
“If you like the music of Norah Jones or Diana Krall, you are sure to love Krisanthi!” - Steve & Bobbie Sands, Tomorrow's Dreams Show, WATD Radio
“Among this bunch, however, two songwriters rise like cream to the top, whose work could and should be topping the charts. Krisanthi Pappas’ flawless folk ballad, “My Back Yard” speaks to the inner child in all of us, ... later creates a hush over the room with her poignantly sung “My Backyard” that elicited sighs first from the audience, then a rousing ovation. “ - John Amodeo, Edge Boston (reviewing “Boston Sings Boston IV”)
“This delightful lady took us on a most entertaining tour of her life through her songs and most interesting stories. Ms. Pappas did all the musical arrangements for the show (she has talents to spare)... Great vocals, great show - I hope it returns so more New Yorkers can catch it.” - Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline New York
“You really have a Norah Jones thing going on, or maybe she has a Krisanthi thing? I greatly enjoyed My Back Yard, personal and very musical. Write more!” - Stephen Flaherty, Tony Award winning Broadway composer of Ragtime, Seussical the Musical, Once On This Island
“Krisanthi Pappas is a welcome addition to Boston's jazz scene. Her rich, dark tone lends warmth to whatever she sings. It is a pleasure to hear her!” - Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer
“My Back Yard is a celebration of childhood with a particularly strong original title track.” - Bob Blumenthal, The Boston Globe
“If there were a jazz category called “Fun”, that is where ‘My Back Yard’ belongs. Pappas’ effort solidly ensconces her among the upper reaches of hierarchy of current jazz singers and screams out for greater recognition.” - Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
“Krisanthi Pappas, who’s starring in ‘Celebratin’ Swing’ could easily be a one- woman show and a one-woman band too. Pappas is a jazz and pop vocalist, a songwriter and a skilled dancer and instrumentalist. She opens the show like gangbusters... With such strong collaborators and such a talented star, this show is a super treat!” - Ellen Brams, The Patriot Ledger
“Pappas has always possessed considerable musical talent, and a warm, supple voice that can accommodate a surprising range of musical styles. She exhibited a striking and appealing stage charisma that resonated with inner confidence. Using her trademark eclectic repertoire and polished musical skills, Pappas created a very presonal and highly entertaining show that offered a close look at the many sides of this varied performer.” - John Amodeo, Bay Windows
“Krisanthi Pappas sings up a storm!” - Buddy Moreno, WSIE Radio, St. Louis
“A singer possessed of a good “jazz” voice -- rich and resonant.” - Peter Coppock, WDCB Radio, Chicago
“At times Pappas’ voice seems to be tailor-made for the intimate cabaret club setting. But she can belt it out with the rest of them when the occasion calls for it. Her intonation is impeccable, as is her phrasing and diction.” - D. Nathan, All About Jazz
“Ms. Pappas sings extremely well, she's in tune and nicely relaxed” - Alan Bargebuhr, Cadence Magazine
“A fabulous recording debut by a marvelous young singer. Krisanthi Pappas has what it takes to interpret these classic favorites from the Great American Songbook. A wonderful tribute to the master George Gershwin from a very gifted vocalist and some first rate instrumentalists. Let's hear more!” - Ron Della Chiesa, Music America and The Jazz Songbook, WPLM and WGBH, Boston
“I am enjoying the CD very much and I like your personal tribute to The Boys.” - Edward Jablonski, NY, Author of “The Gershwin Years”, ”Encyclopedia Of American Music”
“Krisanthi has a rich and lovely voice!” - Eric Rawson, Primavera Jazz, Los Angeles
“Krisanthi Pappas really knocked me out!” - Scott McVay, WKHR, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
“Krisanthi's original words and music on cuts 4 and 9 are interesting and quite good. They deserve play for originality along with the standards. She is indeed a gifted artist.” - Bruce Tater, KETR Radio, Commerce, TX
“Ms. Pappas: Excellent voice, damn good intonation, great breath control” - Bob Coffee, The Coffee and Jazz Radio Show, NH and VT
“I enjoyed the Krisanthi Pappas tribute album, felt she sang jazz well. Very nice effort.” - Lenny Mazel, Jazz Director KCME Radio, Colorado Springs
“Krisanthi Pappas Centennial Tribute to George and Ira is very, very, nice!” - Jack Simpson's Jazz On The Beach, Cocoa, Florida
