Biography of Kirsten Winter

www.kirstenwinter.com

Kirsten studied classical piano from the age of 8. She later switched to violin, playing rock & roll, folk, blues and jazz in bands before moving more towards singing. After some years of guitar pop backing vocals, her influences broadened to include Ella Fitzgerald (particularly for her scat) and especially Nina Simone (for her expressive ability, broad repertoire and the passion of her conscience). Via a jazz piano course, she started singing jazz... She sings with several pianists, in another band and in a big band as well as in the duo with Chris, which features on both her albums.

Over the last five years audiences across England – from the National Theatre to obscure village halls – have been held spellbound by the sensitivity and spontaneity with which Kirsten and Chris treat their material. Contemporary songs sit alongside blues and jazz standards. The parts that a whole band would normally play are condensed to a weave of intimate vocals and complex, moody guitar. ‘They kept their audience spellbound throughout the whole performance with an extraordinary range and an electric performance’ (Greenbelt Arts Festival).

Since meeting at the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival in 2000 the duo has played at a variety of jazz clubs, arts centres, theatres and festivals.

They produced an album in 2002 entitled ‘any day now’ and have just released their next – ‘invent some memories’.