Born: February 18, 1968 Primary Instrument: Piano
Kathleen is a talented pianist /vocalist and composer who grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in a musical family where creative expression was encouraged. Piano lessons started at age six, and years of classical studies gave her a solid musical foundation. She began performing and writing in her teens. After composing a theme for CTV for the Winter Olympics, she moved to Montreal to pursue Jazz piano, arranging and composition studies, completing a BFA ( Concordia University, Montreal) followed by McGill for advanced study in composition and orchestration. She continuously worked as a pianist/vocalist for several years in clubs in Montreal, before settling in Toronto, where she began performing weekly, and also set up a home studio, for recording projects and teaching. She is a Toronto based pianist/vocalist, as well as a composer/arranger and Jazz educator, teaching jazz piano, theory and composition. She has trained with numerous Jazz artists: Jazz piano studies with: Jan Jarczyk, Jon Ballantyne, and Hilario Duran. Vocal Jazz workshops with: Sheila Jordan, Barry Harris, Kurt Elling, Jeri Brown. Kathleen is a member of the IAJE, SAC, CARAS and SOCAN.
Her 2009 release, “Brand New Day” is a collection of jazz/blues originals with some of Toronto’s top jazz musicians, including Henry Heillig (bass), Rob Piltch (guitar), Ben Riley ( drums) Dennis Kelde ( Hammond B organ), Colleen Allen ( sax), Eric St-Laurent (guitar), Marc Pizer (drums) and long time collaborator Kirk Starkey (cello). These self produced and arranged songs feature Kathleen on piano, Rhodes and vocals, beautifully recorded and mixed by Jeremy Darby. “Brand New Day” is available at CDBaby, Itunes and Amazon.com This CD has received airplay all over the world, and repeatedly on local radio at Jazz FM 91.1. One track was recently placed as source music for a current TV program called “Flashpoint”, seen in Canada and the US.
“A brilliant composer and lyricist, the talented Kathleen Gorman invites us on a journey of the heart, exposing universal intimacies which resonate from the opening note of “Brand New Day”to the closing instrumental,”Ain't The Way”. Soulful, poignant and uplifting. Kathleen takes her rightful place as a blues and jazz diva, producing one of the best new original albums of the year. “ -- Paula Arab, Calgary Herald Columnist / Editorial Board.
”........ a wonderful talent. “ Sheila Jordan
” Her voice has a certain sophistication and grace: A beautiful,
refined and
elegant instrument which conveys love and a certain sense of
longing. Ms.
Gorman is a song stylist who has crafted her very own,
singular approach to
the art of singing which is remarkable as we live in an age
where singers
usually don't embrace individuality and often emulate the vocal
stylings of
others.” - Steve Getz, THE JAZZ NETWORK
“Kathleen is a talented vocalist, accomplished pianist and a
very polished
composer. Stay tuned.......” - Chuck Bolger,
”Jazz or Something Like It”, 91.7 FM WMUH Allentown, PA,
USA.
Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact discography@allaboutjazz.com. Thank you.
Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Toronto
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Bachelor of Music ( Concordia University, Montreal) in Jazz
piano / composition
Graduate studies in composition ( McGill University, Montreal,
1990 )
ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal
Conservatory, Toronto
Private Jazz piano studies with: Jan Jarczyk, Jon Ballantyne,
Hilario Duran
Vocal Jazz workshops with: Sheila Jordan, Barry Harris, Kurt
Elling
Composition studies with: Brian Cherny, Bengt Hambraeus,
Allen Crossman
A member of the IAJE, SOCAN, ORMTA and SAC
Private teaching of jazz piano and composition to adults in
Toronto,
as well as song arranging and lyric development.
THE_ROOT.jpg)
