The Healing Power of Music with Musician Nicole Zuraitis | HarmonyTALK # 76

Nicole Zuraitis is a 2X GRAMMY® winning and 4X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-
songwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader, and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police), Nicole is a trailblazing artist who is
redefining vocal jazz, earning her a place as one of the top artists and "prolific
songwriters" (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond.

As a recording artist, Nicole has released five albums as leader, and her sixth album
How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride,
features all original music and was awarded the 2024 GRAMMY for BEST JAZZ
VOCAL ALBUM. Nicole is the only artist ever to have won this award who wrote and
arranged the entire album herself. In addition to leading her quartet, Nicole performed
and recorded with the Birdland Big Band as premier vocalist before taking off as a large ensemble leader of her own, co-producing the Dan Pugach Big Band and guesting for major European big bands. She has headlined at Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and Tanglewood, along with iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Carlyle, 54 Below and the late, great 55 Bar. She also has appeared as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony, and Macon Pops.

Nicole is a featured artist and producer on her husband, renowned drummer,
bandleader, and composer Dan Pugach’s 2025 GRAMMY-winning album, “Bianca
Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence” (Best Large Ensemble) for which they
composed the GRAMMY-nominated song, “Little Fears” (Best Jazz Performance).

Nicole is a vocalist on the GRAMMY-winning “Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial
Celebration” alongside Jon Batiste, Keb’ Mo’, and LeeAnn Rimes. In 2024, Broadway
World honored Nicole with the “Best Big Band Show” Award. Nicole's arrangement of
Dolly Parton's Jolene, co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®, springboarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries, including Christian McBride, David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Stephen Feifke, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim, Rachel Z, Helen Sung, Melanie, Morgan James, Darren Criss, Livingston Taylor, and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and currently vocal faculty at NYU and SUNY Purchase.

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