"Kaunas Jazz" gift to Vilnius: the famous Grammy-nominated US singer Jazzmeia Horn arrives

This spring, the 35th Kaunas Jazz Festival announces the exciting news of another bright jazz star who will appear in this year's season. Jazzmeia Horn, an American jazz vocalist, is coming to Lithuania for her performance on 2 May at the LVSO Concert Hall in Vilnius.

Three times nominated for prestigious Grammy awards, the singer, who has been hailed as one of the brightest jazz stars of the new era, will be giving her first ever concert in Lithuania.

Tickets for all Kaunas Jazz Festival events are distributed by BILIETAI.LT.

"She is one of the most impressive young jazz vocalists," the New York Times wrote about the singer in the last decade.

Soon enough praise was heaped on her that there was no doubt in anyone's mind that she was a singer of extraordinary talent.

Having toured the world several times, performed at the Grammy ceremony and the UNESCO International Jazz Day gala concert, Jazzmeia Horn, who has already inspired many young singers around the globe, will come to Lithuania to launch her latest album, Messages.

It seems that a career as a singer was predicted for her in her first days of life. Her grandmother gave her the name Jazzmeia, which sounds like jazz.

Born in Dallas and raised in a religious family, Jazzmeia grew up singing gospel music, then enrolled and graduated from a prestigious music school before moving to New York in 2009 to continue her music studies and join the city's vibrant music scene.

In 2013 she won the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition and two years later the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition (one of the most important awards for young jazz artists).

Jazzmeia Horn on US TV: https://youtu.be/riCnMm-ti8U?si=k-E2NFm39_k_kmmY

In 2017, Jazzmeia Horn, who is often compared to legendary jazz vocalists Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter and Nancy Wilson, released her debut solo album A Social Call - and was immediately nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.

Her second album, Love & Liberation, was released in 2019 to the same acclaim, and ahead of its release she was named the most prominent emerging jazz vocalist by the world's leading jazz magazine Downbeat.

In 2021, with her band Her Noble Force, Jazzmeia released Dear Love, which was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album of the Year.

"Let Us (Take Our Time)" from the album: https://youtu.be/m4pFzrqfnz8?si=9QUmoHe_llJeFk9m

Jazzmeia's fourth album, Messages, was released last October and is full of personal observations and reflections.

In it, she reflects on love, relationships, encouragement, healing, reconciliation. There are many hints of her own everyday life, romantic relationships, longing for her children, travelling on long tours.

She has a very busy schedule. From the USA to Europe and Asia, from jazz clubs where Jazzmeia often performs twice a night to the famous North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Already at the beginning of the year, the singer had a dozen concerts planned - and there's no doubt that there will be many more to come.

Jazzmeia's Horn video "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me": - https://youtu.be/dkm1v-oIn7A?si=HOHzSlx3xCFp2p-c

The secret to her success? Above all, musicality, a hypnotic voice, excellent voice control, vocal improvisation skills and stage charisma. She is one of the performers you can't take your eyes off on stage.

She is also a singer whose music shows respect for the jazz tradition, but who manages to combine it with a contemporary edge, a formula that appeals to both older and younger jazz audiences.

Her albums are characterised by a personal approach and emotional strength, and do not shy away from tackling important themes such as social problems.

Whether performing with a small group or a big band, Jazzmeia Horn always commands attention, and she is eager to share her experience with younger vocalists in masterclasses.

"She sings and improvises with the stamina and passion of an Olympic gymnast," the San Francisco Chronicle quoted her as saying.

Jazzmeia Horn's "Strive (To Be)": https://youtu.be/G1VNI_umBRg?si=JXIEJfyUiBZ-9aCx

For the first time, Lithuanians will be able to appreciate the singer's talent live in an exclusive concert for less than a thousand people.

As previously announced, the Kaunas Jazz Festival audience will be delighted by the US saxophonist James Carter on 25 April at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre, and on 26 April by the duo of Michael League and Bill Laurance, stars of the famous US band Snarky Puppy.

Four more concerts - in Jurbarkas, Kaunas, Palanga and Joniskis - will be given by Swiss guitarist Heinz Affolter and his band Appletree, who performed at the first Kaunas Jazz Festival 34 years ago.

More stars will be announced soon. More information about the festival can be found at www.kaunasjazz.lt