New York Jazz Vocals (feat. Mika Pohjola)

The UK’s Guardian newspaper has called Rigmor Gustafsson “penetratingly delicate, and subtle,” and she continues to establish herself as one of the leading jazz vocalists in Scandinavia. She has released 9 CD’s since 1997. Three have sold gold in Sweden, the first jazz artist to have that honor since Monica Zetterlund’s 1991 classic Varsamt. Rigmor’s “Alone with You” (2008) won a Swedish Grammy, and “I Will Wait for You” (2003) received The Jazz Award in Germany. In November 2013 she received the most prestigious jazz award in Sweden, “The Royal Musical Academy’s Jazz Award”. Her new CD, “When You Make Me Smile” with piano trio and orchestra, was released in August 2014. Through the years Rigmor has toured around the globe, mostly with her own trio, but she has also featured in other constellations (Radio String Quartet Vienna, Danish Radio Big Band, The Royal Filharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra), and has appeared on a number of TV shows. She has performed twice at celebrations for Crown Princess Victoria: Her Royal Highness’ birthday and the 2010 royal wedding concert, both performances broadcasted live on Swedish National TV. Rigmor also performed at the 2003 Nobel Prize Ceremony, broadcasted on TV in numerous countries. Jill Seifers Walsh (1965-2012) grew up in Portland, Oregon, studied at Berklee College of Music, started her career in New York City, and lived in Nashville until her untimely death in December 2012. Jill was a modern songwriter with a gift for beautiful melodies and a voice as pure as the Pacific Northwest. Backed by some of New York's and Nashville's finest musicians, Jill's own compositions brought a sense of musicianship and integrity that is sometimes missing in today's music. A musician since the age of four, Jill shared the stage and studio with Shawn Colvin, Jessica Simpson and she is featured on the top 5 single (BBC Radio 1) "Breathe", which is from the album Nightbird by Erasure. Her debut solo album was produced by Steve Walsh whose credits include productions with Erasure, Fil Izler, and Amy Atchley. Jill's vast parallel career as a jazz vocalist has been documented on recordings with some of today's most established jazz musicians, most notably pianist Mika Pohjola, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, saxophonist Chris Cheek, drummer Jorge Rossy and pianist Michael Kanan. She was in the prestigious faculty of the New School and New York University jazz programs while living in New York City.