“. . . one of the best, and purest jazz singers ever . . . a voice with the clarity of a mountain stream, accuracy of pitch and time that is a wonder to hear, perfect diction and sensitivity to lyrics, and with a disciplined improvisational gift that makes her scat-sung lines music.” L.A. Jazz Scene
Singer Judy Niemack is a pure musician, exploring jazz like a virtuoso horn player. Her delivery of lyrics focuses on feeling, while she breaks new ground with originals and a modern approach to standards. Niemack was born in Pasadena, California, where she began to study classical voice at age 17. At 18, she met the great tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, and became fascinated with improvisation. After pursuing her classical studies at New England Conservatory, she realized that her true path lay in jazz and returned to California to study improvisation with Marsh. When she moved to New York City in 1977, her first major engagement was a week at the Village Vanguard with him.
She has recorded 10 CDs as a leader, with such jazz luminaries as Kenny Barron, Fred Hersch, Joe Lovano, Toots Thielemans, Mal
Waldron, Cedar Walton and Kenny Werner. About Time on Sony Jazz featured Eddie Gomez and Lee Konitz; In The Sundance , included pianist Bruce Barth and bassist Rufus Reid, and in 2017, Listening to You featured Judy in duo with pianist Dan Tepfer. New Standards, with the Danish Radio Big Band and Jim McNeely will be released in 2018.
Niemack has written lyrics for over 100 compositions by Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Richie Beirach, Peter Bernstein, Clifford Brown, Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny, Kenny Dorham and Mike Stern, among others.
Judy currently divides her time between Berlin and New York City, and as Germany’s first professor of jazz voice, leads the vocal department at the Jazz Institut Berlin while performing in clubs, concerts and festivals around the world.
http://www.judyniemack.com/
