Julie Hardy

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Born: February 4, 1977 Primary Instrument: Vocal

Jazz Times critic Christopher Loudon states that “Hardy lives, like [Kurt] Elling and [Bobby] McFerrin, in a musical world of her own, and it is a marvelously dynamic place.”

With one step into the world of Julie Hardy, it is clear that she is not a typical jazz singer. The Wish, her new release on World Culture Music (September 2007), shows us a highly trained composer, improviser and re-inventor of jazz standards, backed by a spectacular collection of some of New York's best young jazz talent.

Through a diverse program of wordless originals and re-workings of timeless standards, Hardy has developed a sound that is truly unique and honest. She aims to tell a story with or without lyrics and she carefully chooses repertoire based on a strong, personal connection. “Arranging is a way of making standards my own and connecting to the song.” Hardy's unique and modern approach puts a fresh spin on the standards she sings, helping to bring them into the here and now instead of looking back towards the past. “I chose the songs on this record because they move me and not because it is expected of me as a jazz singer.”

Julie is backed by a spectacular collection of some of New York's best jazz talents including Jaleel Shaw (alto saxophone), Ben Monder (guitar) Sam Sadigursky (soprano and tenor saxophones), Randy Ingram (piano), Matt Clohesy (bass), and Kendrick Scott (drums).

Look for Julie's next CD The Wish this Fall on artist collective label World Culture Music. Julie has performed at the Jazz Standard, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Sweet Rhythm, Birdland, Smoke, Cornelia Street Café, and 55 Bar among others. In 2006 she received the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award.

Last Updated: October 1, 2007

“...Inspirationally, [Julie Hardy is] at home with Kurt Elling or Bobby McFerrin, painting eloquent tone poems and vibrant scat-framed landscapes as she wanders wherever imagination and keen intelligence lead. Eight tracks shape Hardy's A Moment's Glance (Fresh Sound New Talent), divided equally between ingenious covers (including a superb- ly introspective “Haunted Heart” and a stridently urgent “It's All Right With Me”) and perpsicacious originals (most notably the angulary romantic title track and euphoric “Growing”)...Hardy lives, like Elling and McFerrin, in a musical world of her own, and it is a marvelously dynamic place.”

- Christopher Loudon
JazzTimes (June 2005)

Julie Hardy’s debut CD, A Moment’s Glance, introduced a singer well equipped to handle everything modern jazz vocalism demands: candlelit standards (”My Romance”), repurposed pop hits (”And I Love Him”), effortless improvisation and a strong writer’s pen...We’re eager to hear what comes next.
-Steve Smith, TimeOut New York (March 2007)

“...Hardy's voice is acrobatic and pliable but she doesn't rub her formidable skills in your face, delivering the words in a tone that is often soft and impressionistic as Luciana Souza. She's also a musician as much as a singer of lyrics as she dives into rhythms and harmonies...using a musical intellect that is bright and intuitive.”
-Tad Hendrickson, Jazz Week (March 2005)

“Julie Hardy is a distinctive and intriguing young vocalist with a beautiful voice and a promising future.”
-Fred Hersch, pianist

“Julie Hardy makes her recording debut on A Moment's Glance. From the first selection, a reharmonized version of the Beatles' “And I Love You,” it is obvious that Hardy is a musician in addition to being a singer. Influenced by Wayne Shorter, her teacher Dominique Eade, and many of her young contemporaries, Hardy is equally comfortable expressing herself through lyrics and wordless sounds. Her post-bop recording alternates four of her adventurous originals with modernized versions of a quartet of standards. Assisted by tenor saxophonist Rob Stillman (they often harmonize together), pianist Randy Ingram, bassist Ben Street, and drummer Adam Cruz, she reinvents “My Romance” and “It's All Right with Me” and puts a lot of expressiveness into “Haunted Heart.” Although she will certainly grow as a singer and an improviser in future years, A Moment's Glance is a very impressive debut for Julie Hardy. “
-Scott Yanow, All Music Guide (October 2005)

A Moment's Glance (Fresh Sound New Talent)- 2005

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Primary Instrument:
Vocal

Location:
Brooklyn, NY

Willing to teach:
Beginners

Credentials/Background:
For students who would like to focus on jazz:

* development of healthy vocal technique
* expand jazz repertoire, build a "book" of tunes
* how to write out your own charts and learn how to tranpose and find keys that work for you
* exploration of style, interpretation and phrasing
* play basic jazz chords at the piano
* ear training & improvisation (scat singing)
* preparation for demo recordings
* development of business skills that enable you to interact effectively with booking agents and the media

Contact: teaching@juliehardy.com

Julie currently teaches voice at New School University and in her private studio. She derives vocal techniques from various sources including Jeannette LoVetri and the Estill Voice Training System. She holds a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelors degree in Composition from the University of New Hampshire.

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