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Kevyn Lettau

Kevyn Lettau is recognized internationally as a singer with a unique personal style, blending many different popular song elements into the jazz idiom.

Kevyn got her big break when legendary Brazilian pianist and bandleader, Sergio Mendes, discovered her in 1984.  She toured and recorded with Mendes for eight years, developing her own vocal style along the way.  Al Jarreau was also her mentor and friend and Kevyn has toured and performed regularly with him over the years.

Kevyn has worked and recorded with many great musicians including Russell Ferrante (keyboardist of the Yellowjackets), Mike Stern, Leni Stern, Bill Cantos, Yutaka, Jeff Lorber, Peter Sprague and many more.

Kevyn Lettau grew up in Berlin, Germany.  At the age of 14 she moved to San Diego California. By age 17 she’d caught the singing bug and began working with guitarist Peter Sprague singing R & B, Brazilian music and an interesting blend of jazz in and around the San Diego area.  She recorded two solo albums during this time, Kevyn Lettau & Brasiljazz.  These recordings lead to critical acclaim and a loyal following both in the U.S. and abroad.  She toured extensively in both Japan and the Phillipines, where she achieved superstar status and became a spokesmodel for several leading corporations including Phillipines Airlines and Sunlife Insurance.

In 1992, Kevyn signed with JVC Music. She recorded four albums for JVC including Simple Life, Another Season, Universal Language, and The Language of Flowers. With her next label, Universal Music, she recorded Police, (her exploration of the music from the pop/rock genre-bending group), Little Things, The Color of Love and Bye Bye Blackbird with MCG Jazz.

In 2008 Kevyn released What is Enough with guitarist Peter Sprague; a beautiful acoustic album featuring Brazilian samba and jazz swing vocals.

She is currently working on her next recording project featuring her LA band, which includes Russell Ferrante,  Kleber Jorge and Mike Miller due for release in 2011!


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178
Album Review

Kevyn Lettau: Bye Bye Blackbird

Read "Bye Bye Blackbird" reviewed by Stephen Latessa


Bye Bye Blackbird is the first all-standards album by singer/songwriter Kevyn Lettau. Born in Germany but immigrating to the United States when she was fourteen, Lettau has an appealing surpassingly clear voice. The eleven performances on the disc were arranged by Dori Caymmi and often feature subtle Brazilian flavors that help give a sprightly feel to the album.

Those Brazilian influences pop up on a smooth take of “I Concentrate On You that features some tasteful, unobtrusive work ...

90
Album Review

Kevyn Lettau: Bye Bye Blackbird

Read "Bye Bye Blackbird" reviewed by Jim Santella


With strings and the gentle acoustic guitar of Dori Caymmi, singer Kevyn Lettau interprets favorite songs for a standards album that's been a long time coming. She first recorded with Caymmi in 1988, before her eight-year stint with Sergio Mendes took her on a whirlwind adventure that colored her life's work with a Brazilian tinge.

Possessing a smooth soprano voice that lends itself to romantic interpretation, Lettau gives her audience an armful of class. Songs by Duke Ellington, ...

193
Album Review

Kevyn Lettau: Simple Life

Read "Simple Life" reviewed by William Grim


Kevyn Lettau is one of the most versatile singers around and this album shows off her many talents to great benefit. Although best known as a mainstay of “smooth jazz” radio station rotations, Lettau possesses solid jazz chops and is a gifted Anglo interpreter of Brazilian music.

Indeed, the Brazilian-influenced tunes on this album are the most inspired cuts. The samba arrangement of “Forever Lovers and Friends” is one of the best recorded versions of that song currently ...

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