We at the Atlanta Jazz Festival love Ms. Kathleen Bertrand... Well known and multifaceted recording artist and writer Kathleen Bertrand is a native Atlantan and Spelman College graduate, whose performances have ranged from two Olympic Games to performances before two presidents, to appearances at jazz festivals world-wide. Bertrand toured and recorded as vocalist with jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers before settling down to raise her family. Once she began singing again, she came out with strength, superb musicianship, and vibrancy. This three-octave vocal artist has been honored by the United Negro College Fund as one of "Atlanta's Legends" and by Spelman College with its distinguished 1998 "Alumnae Achievement Award for the Arts & Entertainment." She was an invited performer for 1999, 2000 and 2006 at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and for 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2010 at the Atlanta Jazz Festival as well as the Nuremberg Meets Atlanta Festival in Nuremberg, Germany. She is the 2003 recipient of the James O. Costen Award for the Arts presented by the Interdenominational Theological Center. In 2002, she was honored to have sung for the inauguration of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and to open for the legendary Ray Charles at the Atlanta Jazz Festival's opening night at Chastain Park. Additionally, Bertrand has opened for a variety of America's finest jazz artists, including Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell, Najee, Jeff Lorber, David Benoit, Roy Ayers, the Sounds of Blackness, and Kenny G. Her fan base includes radio listeners across the USA as well as in England, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Hong Kong, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands and Brazil among others. Read more on her website... www.kathleenbertrand.com/#/home

Be the first to comment