Born in Kansas City, Krystle Warren manages to fuse almost every American style, from country and folk to soul and jazz, in emotional songs that veer constantly between the familiar and the unexpected. To this she adds a powerful voice that can switch from deep and husky to sections where she suddenly climbs an octave or two, sounding like an entirely different singer.
Krystle Warren burst upon English audiences with a show-stealing performance on the Jools Holland Later program in October 2009, around the same time she was receiving serious plaudits from Rufus Wainwright and kd lang. She repeated the trick at the Barbican’s Jazz Voice concert in the London Jazz Festival; Songs of Grace and Danger – The Songs of John Martyn curated by Danny Thompson.
Having played at Kate McGarrigle tribute shows in London and New York, she is currently on a world tour with Rufus; and of course the Nick Drake Way To Blue posse with shows across the UK, Italy and Australia. She recently supported Joan As Police Woman on her UK tour.
Music critics instantly ‘get’ Krystle too: As the Independent said, ‘There are elements of Nina Simone and Joan Armatrading in folk-jazz singer Krystle Warren’s voice, and even Dusty at her dustiest’. While our own SMH said, following the Way To Blue Sydney Opera House performance: ‘… it was Warren who regularly stilled the room’.
Krystle opens for Rufus Wainwright and also plays in his band, as well as presenting a special solo show on Saturday September 29 at Byron Community Centre. Tix at the Centre or online at http://byroncentre.com.au/whats-on/buy-tickets.
