“Crabbe’s Ella Fitzgerald–like vibe glows…” Downbeat Magazine

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Shirley Crabbe Biography

"Crabbe ... wrings the poetic imagery out of songs... [and sends them to a] rarefied realm."
–Raul De Gama, JazzDeGama.com.

Native New Yorker, Jazz Vocalist, and winner of the highly coveted New York Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording: BRIDGES, Shirley Crabbe sings songs that speak to the heart. With a repertoire of songs replete with lyrics worth listening to and a voice hailed as one that “must surely appeal to all who love good jazz singing, her “almost Ella Fitzgerald–like vibe... glows,” says John Ephland of Downbeat Magazine. 
As a teenager, Shirley was inspired by a performance of Ella Fitzgerald singing "A Tisket, A Tasket" in an old Abbot and Costello movie.  "I've always had a passion for singing, but when I heard Ella sing, I knew that jazz singing was "for me." Following her passion, she pursued her dreams first to Illinois to earn a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, and then back home to New York, to study voice at the distinguished Manhattan School of Music (MSM). During the day she studied classical music uptown at MSM, but in the evening, she traveled downtown to sing jazz in the clubs.
As a classically trained singer turned jazz vocalist and a child of Caribbean immigrants, Shirley's musical influences are rich with lyrical melodies, intoxicating rhythms, and storytelling. She also has a deep admiration and interest in musical genres ranging from early Jazz to Bossa Nova. Her performances reflect these passions and showcase her love of syncopation, technical precision, vocal agility, tone color, and a desire to connect personally with her audience. "I love to tell stories and am curious about how we express ourselves as we navigate life. I value others' life stories and seek to understand how we can all better connect to each other," This unique musical perspective, combined with the rich, vibrant sounds of jazz, makes Shirley's performances genuinely distinctive.
Once an opening act for Abby Lincoln and a mentee of the late, celebrated jazz pianist Harold Mabern, Shirley has had the privilege of collaborating with some of New York's most vibrant and acclaimed musicians, notably Grammy-nominated pianist Donald Vega and the highly-sought after David Budway, among others. Other notable collaborations include her debut CD "HOME," which features the legendary tenor saxophonist Houston Person.
​Her latest album, "BRIDGES," which showcases some of her original compositions and lyrics, reached the top 50 spot on JazzWeek's National Radio Chart, the definitive music chart reporting the top Jazz albums played each week on radio stations across the US.
Shirley has appeared in concert at some of New York's most prestigious jazz venues, including Birdland, Jazz at Kitano, Minton's, Zinc Bar, the legendary Lenox Lounge, Berks Jazz Fest, and Maureen's Jazz Cellar,  to name a few. She has also been a guest on syndicated radio programs such as "Jazz Inspired," hosted by Judy Carmichael, Steve Cuden's "StoryBeat," and others.
Always keeping busy, Shirley enjoys gardening, refinishing furniture, knitting, and working as a Voice Actor when not performing. 

Artist Statement

I am a classically trained singer turned jazz vocalist and a child of immigrants.  My parents hail from two of the Caribbean's warmest and most inviting islands, Tortola and Nevis.  The music of my culture, with its syncopated rhythms and the storytelling nature of its songs, was ever present in my house and significantly influenced how I digest, interact with, and enjoy music.  As a teenager,  I fell in love with jazz after hearing Ella Fitzgerald sing her hit song  "A-Tisket A-Tasket in an Abbott and Costello movie.  In addition to Ms. Fitzgerald, the music of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Carmen McCrae,  Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, and Ethel Waters has profoundly influenced me and my approach to jazz. 
My vocal approach, fueled by the spontaneity of jazz and informed by my many years of classical voice training, expresses my love of rhythm, technical precision, vocal agility, tone color, my culture, and my desire to create a personal connection with the listener.  I love to tell stories and am curious about love, value others' stories, and seek to understand how we can better connect.  All these things also inform my selection of song material.  If, during a performance, I can get my audience to laugh, cry, sing along, and, if they so desire, dance with me,  I have done my job well. 
Additionally, I am deeply interested in elevating the contributions of female African American artists.  This interest has led me to write, curate, and produce several original cabaret-like jazz shows that celebrate their lives.  My presentations showcase their stories, struggles, and triumphs and aim to foster a deeper connection between these notable women, myself, and my audience as we uncover the universal struggle we all share in our pursuit of love, justice, and equality.
When planning a performance, I ask myself the following questions to guide me in choosing whether or not any particular song aligns with my performance goals.  Does this song have a good story to present?  Will it inspire my audience to join me on the journey I want to take them on?  Does this musical selection stretch the boundaries of my technical and musical imagination, creating space for me to be authentic and for the listener to connect to this healing gift of music?  
My culture and music studies powerfully shape my identity as a musician and my approach to performing.  My curiosity about the human condition influences my song choice, the programs I create, and how I connect with my audience.  I strive to offer a safe space to entertain, using music as a vehicle to celebrate life. 

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Short Bio (about 150 words)

"Crabbe ... wrings the poetic imagery out of songs... ​[and sends them to a] rarefied realm."
–Raul De Gama, JazzDeGama.com.

Native New Yorker, Jazz Vocalist, and winner of the highly coveted New York Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording: BRIDGES, Shirley Crabbe sings songs that speak to the heart. With a repertoire of songs replete with lyrics worth listening to and a voice hailed as one that “must surely appeal to all who love good jazz singing, her “almost Ella Fitzgerald–like vibe glows…” says John Ephland of Downbeat Magazine.
Drawing inspiration from a wide range of music genres and her Caribbean heritage, Shirley’s performances showcase her love of syncopation and lyricism. “I love to tell stories and seek to understand how we can all better connect to each other.” This unique musical perspective, combined with Jazz’s rich, vibrant sounds, makes Shirley’s performances genuinely distinctive.
Once an opening act for Abby Lincoln and a mentee of the late, celebrated jazz pianist Harold Mabern, Shirley has had the privilege of collaborating on numerous projects with some of New York’s finest musicians. This includes Grammy-nominated pianist Donald Vega and the highly sought-after pianist David Budway.
Her debut album, “HOME” (2011), features the legendary tenor saxophonist Houston Person, while her latest CD, BRIDGES (2018), includes some of her original compositions and lyrics. BRIDGES climbed to the “Top 50” spot on the Jazz Week album chart, the definitive music chart that tracks the top jazz albums played weekly on radio stations across the U.S.
Shirley has appeared at some of New York’s most prestigious jazz venues, including Birdland, Jazz at Kitano, Minton’s, Zinc Bar, the legendary but now-closed Lenox Lounge, and the Berks Jazz Festival. She has been a guest on syndicated radio programs such as “Jazz Inspired,” hosted by Judy Carmichael, and Steve Cuden’s “StoryBeat,” to name a few. Shirley actively performs at jazz venues, music festivals, and concert series in the United States.