Kendra Shank

Recognized as "one of the top jazz singers around today" (Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene), Kendra Shank’s warm voice and subtle improvising style have drawn enthusiastic response from fans and the media. Her adventurous, genre-bending approach is influenced in part by her early roots as a folksinger-guitarist, a residency in Paris, and studies with pioneering vocalist Jay Clayton. Shank’s critically-acclaimed debut CD, Afterglow (Mapleshade, 1994), was co-produced by jazz legend Shirley Horn. This was followed by Wish (Jazz Focus, 1998), which charted on jazz radio, was named “Top 10 of the Year” in Jazziz magazine, and put Ms. Shank among "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the Down Beat International Critics Poll. In 1999 Shank formed her current New York ensemble and featured them on her radio-charting CD Reflections (Jazz Focus, 2000) which made “Top 10 of the Year” lists in The Boston Globe and Newsday. This ensemble is also featured on her previous release, A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook (Challenge Records CR73253, 2007). Shank has appeared on NPR's JazzSet and Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz and performs internationally in clubs and festivals. She was guest guitarist on Abbey Lincoln's CD Over The Years (Verve, 2000) and has been a vocal guest with Bob Dorough, Jay Clayton, and Peter Leitch.