Justin Kauflin Quartet
Live at The Z Music Series
March 22, 2024
7:30pm
Main Stage Theater
Jimmy MacBride (drums)
Evan Gregor (bass)
In partnership with:
The ’23-’24 Live at The Z Series is brought to you in partnership with Big Juicy Entertainment.
Live at The Z Music Series
March 22, 2024
7:30pm
Main Stage Theater
In partnership with:
Live at The Z Music Series
April 19, 2024
7:30pm
Studio Theater
The winner of the Proteus Music Contest performs live at The Z!
The daughter of an Air Force pilot, Chloe’s nomadic childhood allowed for very few constants, though plinking out tunes by ear on the piano, with the occasional teacher, remained one of them.
Moving stateside again in 2011 opened up avenues of musical theater, marching band, and jazz ensemble for the first time that she enthusiastically applied herself to.
Out of a “slim pickings” need, she filled the role for pianist in her senior year for Grafton High School’s jazz ensemble (Yorktown, VA) under Darren Kirsch. The exposure to the music lead to a pivot in her academic plans, and some years later she graduated with a B.M. in Jazz Studies (’17) in voice from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virgina. Bob Hallahan, pianist and professor in the jazz program until 2022, was a major proponent for her acceptance into the program, despite being a late-accepted music student.
After graduating, Chloe received international recognition as a composer-arranger and lyricist, being chosen as one of 24 young adults for the 2018 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency program, hosted at the Kennedy Center & conducted by pianist Jason Moran.
Chloe relocated to Austin in 2018, beginning her family and launching her musical career while actively performing up to 36 weeks pregnant.
While holding down several residencies throughout CenTex, Chloe stepped up as Mozart’s Coffee Roasters musical curator in the fall of 2020, in addition to having been selected as its Resident Artist.
Under her direction, Mozart’s 2021 music program expanded to inaugurate the Keep Live Music Alive Singer-Songwriter Showcase, the Late at the Lake Tuesday Variety Show, and the Jazz in the Grotto series on top of its weekly Thursday-Sunday calendar.
Her role as emcee for Tuesday’s Late at the Lake facilitated between 30 to 40 different performers each night, with original music being celebrated by large and diverse crowd.
In the spring of 2022, she launched the podcast series, “This Week Late at the Lake,” featuring notable original content from performances on Tuesday nights. The podcast falls under the Music Interviews category, and within two months of creation began charting at #119. As of summer ’23, it began charting internationally, and charts steadily in the top 5 for Uruguay…
She and drummer Anthony Corsaro collaborated as Duo Nuvole, which maintained a residency weekly starting fall 2020 through the spring of 2022, delighting audiences with their goofy banter and delivering, “never the same way twice”spin on classic hits, American jazz standards, and her original compositions.
In November of 2020, she briefly released but ultimately removed a studio co-produced project, “Memoir.” In its short time streaming, The Austin Chronicle reviewed the project, hyperlinked at the top of this page. Select recordings off that EP can still be found on Bandcamp.com.
Another collection of authentic, uncompromised, unadulterated versions of those same songs is anticipated to be re-recorded live and published under a more authentic representation of her sound.
7 original songs and 2 instrumentals give a glance into her lyrical mind and showcase her dominance over melody.
The chatter around Memoir…
”This is a beautiful project. In a world completely distracted by flash, speed & shock value it’s refreshingly comforting to hear music that’s intended to innocently transport us to a peaceful and safe space. The purity of Chloe’s voice delivers these heartfelt lyrics and their underlying message with courage and hope. This is good music.”- Mark Whitfield (guitar)
”So soulful. Her writing is brilliant. Anointed music indeed.”- Andre Hayward (trombone)
“Timeless lyrics, diverse music and arrangements, clear and relevant message, nostalgic.”- Laura Anglade (vocalist)
“The entire set is tangibly, viscerally intimate. Beautiful writing, stunning delivery.””- Ari Carvajal (guitar)
In October 2023, Chloe won the Zeider’s American Dream Theater Proteus Contest for her original compositions and performances leading a full band. The winnings of the contest include 4 hours of recording time and a headlining show at the Z as part of its “Live At The Z Series.”
Chloe is married to Liam Houston and the mother of two daughters.
In partnership with:
a Undiscovered Open Mic Event
April 25, 2024
7:30pm
Studio Theater
The Undiscovered presents a one-night only cabaret of Broadway... backwards! Featuring performers singing the roles they always wanted, but could never be cast in and culminating in a Broadway Jam sesh with sign-ups at the door!* A Pay What You Can Event
Live at The Z Music Series
May 24, 2024
7:30pm
Main Stage Theater
The Songwriter Swap returns featuring 6 songwriters swapping songs and singing each other’s original music! In partnership with Big Juicy Entertainment
6:45pm to 7:15pm- Opening performance in the Lobby
7:30pm- Headlining Performance in the Main Stage
Live at The Z Music Series
June 06, 2024 to June 09, 2024
A full weekend of Jazz!
Lobby, Main Stage Theater, Studio Theater, The Outside Terrace
The Vocal Jazz Summit is an annual conference designed to bring together jazz enthusiasts, emerging and established artists, industry leaders, and the greater jazz community to connect and engage one another in celebration of the artform, present unique educational experiences, and provide an environment to nurture and grow the jazz community. The weekend will engage festival-goers with live performance, interactive workshops and masterclasses, and networking opportunities.
at the Vocal Jazz Summit
June 07, 2024
7:00pm
Main Stage Theater
The GRAMMY® nominated vocal supergroup, säje (rhymes with “beige”), is the brainchild of vocalist/composers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage. Born out of close friendship and deep admiration, these world-renowned artists, composers, and arrangers have come together to explore, create, and celebrate the music that moves them. As individuals, each artist has crafted their own notable solo career, and now are delighted to bring their collective voices to this union, traversing a vast array of compelling original material, beloved jazz standards, and contemporary re-imaginings (The Bad Plus, YEBBA, Björk, etc). After debuting an inspiring and energized set at the 2020 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, säje went on to tour multiple jazz festivals and clubs from January to March. During quarantine, säje received their first GRAMMY® nomination, for their composition “Desert Song” in the Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals category. They were awarded the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Award for their second composition “Wisteria”, as well as their first Jazz Journalists Association Award Nomination for “Best Vocal Jazz Group”. The collective also recently received gracious support for their continued work through the Chamber Music of America New Jazz Works grant, the Super Patron Grant, the Jazz Road Creative Residencies grant, and the USC Visions + Voices grant. The union of säje is rooted in the tradition of joy, curiosity, lush harmony, heart-felt expression, and profound sisterhood.
at the Vocal Jazz Summit
June 09, 2024
6pm
Main Stage Theater
Stephanie Nakasian is an exciting, well-seasoned vocalist and master of innovative jazz improvisation, completely authentic with a fresh and vibrant sound all her own. Bringing high energy to every performance, Stephanie enthralls listeners with her pure tones and a flawless delivery, engaging them on a personal level with a love for the music that is playful, electric and spontaneous in story and song.
Then & Now: Stephanie came to international attention in the mid-80s when she sang and toured with the vocal jazz master Jon Hendricks and Company. She continues to tour and record as a vocal leader to this day!