PHOTOGRAPH BY LAUREN DESBERG
Lauren Henderson is a jazz, Latin jazz, soul and fusion
vocalist. A recording artist and
composer from Massachusetts, Henderson's Caribbean and Latin Heritage are
central themes in her original music.
Currently based in both Miami and New York, Lauren performs
standards and original music. She has
appeared at the Blue Note, Birdland, Joe’s Pub, Casa del Jazz (Italia),
Regattabar, WGBH, and various national and international venues. Henderson has toured the United States,
Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Mexico and various countries.
Her original music was recently featured in The Drowning,
directed by Bette Gordon and starring Julia Stiles, Avan Jogia, Josh Charles,
Tracie Thoms and an outstanding cast.
Lauren's eclectic vocal influences spread across genres. Her
Afro-Latin influence aids her in producing a distinct yet versatile sound.
Lauren's diverse musical background is rooted in jazz and has been influenced
by artists like Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day, Chris Connor, Julie
London, Sarah Vaughan, Astrud Gilberto, Omara Portuondo, and many others.
Founder and CEO of Brontosaurus Records, Lauren Henderson is
pursuing her MBA at Brown University. Having earned college degrees in both
Music and Hispanic Studies, at Wheaton
College (MA), Lauren continues to combine her love of music and culture. While
living in Puebla, México she studied the
traditional music of the Yucatán and popular music throughout the country at
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Through her international piano and
voice studies, she worked on developing her musicianship. In Córdoba, España
she studied flamenco and its similarities to jazz at La Universidad de Córdoba.
An avid nuevo-flamenco listener, Lauren often quotes popular sounds of various
countries while nurturing the roots of classic forms.
Henderson began study piano at an early age. She grew up
singing in church and school choirs, as well as listening to jazz records her
parents and grandparents played in the house. Timid as a young musician, she
was always reluctant to sing solos, until given a gentle push by mentors
shortly before heading to Wheaton College (MA) to receive her Bachelor of Arts.
At Wheaton, she discovered her voice, becoming the Musical Director of her
singing group, a member of Jazz Band, studying classical voice and musical
theatre, as well as finding inspiration in her professors and master classes
with artists like Paquito D’Rivera and Take6.
In 2011 she released her debut album, Lauren Henderson. It
was recorded almost immediately upon her arrival in New York. Henderson
recorded with close friend and musical partner, Sullivan Fortner (piano), along
with Ben Leifer (bass), and Jesse Simpson (drums). The original intent was to create
a demo to aid in her pursuit of a career in New York’s competitive jazz
scene. The quartet recorded classics by
Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Rogers and Hart.
After the work was shared with colleagues and fellow musicians, it was reviewed
by various publications, including DownBeat Magazine, JazzTimes and All About
Jazz. It is available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and is accessible as a
Pandora.com station.
She has had the opportunity to study with legendary and
influential musicians like Barry Harris at the Barry Harris Workshop. Lauren
has had the opportunity to study and perform with Grammy-Nominated Vocalist,
Jane Monheit, and Grammy-Nominated Pianist, Michael Kanan.
Her most recent release, A La Madrugada, features Sullivan
Fortner on piano (Impulse - Universal Music Group Artist, Roy Hargrove Quintet
and Winner of the Cole Porter American Pianist Association 2015 Jazz
Competition), Ameen Saleem on bass (Roy Hargrove Quintet), Louis Fouche on alto
saxophone (Steven Colbert, Eddie Palmieri, Christian Scott), Jonathan Powell on
trumpet (Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Sextet, Arturo O'Farrill, voted
"Best Latin Jazz Trumpeter" 2009 by Latin Jazz Corner), Riley
Mulherkar on trumpet (Member of Juilliard, named "Rising Jazz Artist"
by Wynton Marsalis), and Jeremy Bean Clemmons on drums and percussion (Award
Winning Producer and prior member of Grammy Nominated, Andy Bey's Quartet,
Member of Soul Understated). The recording has been featured and reviewed in
various publications. It is available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, Spotify and
various online outlets. A La Madrugada has landed in the JazzWeek Top 100 for
over 3 weeks.
In March of 2018, Henderson released ÁRMAME under the
direction of Grammy-Nominated Producer and Emmy-Winner, Mark Ruffin! This album will features Terri Lyne
Carrington, Josh Evans, Godwin Louis, Sullivan Fortner, Eric Wheeler, Nick
Tannura, Nanny Assis, and Joe Saylor and has charted in the JazzWeek Top 40
since its release.
Alma Oscura, Henderson’s fourth release, will feature
Impulse! artist, Sullivan Fortner, a Steinway Artist and Grammy-Nominated
Pianist, Michael Thurber (bass) and the incredible, Joe Saylor (drums and
percussion) of Stephen Colbert’s ‘The Late Show’! The compositions are a pleasing mix of jazz,
Latin, soul y más!
Website: https://www.laurenhendersonmusic.com
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