Nicole Zuraitis

Based in New York but originally from Connecticut, Nicole Zuraitis has built a career as a singer, pianist and composer rooted in contemporary vocal jazz. Trained in classical music and musical theatre before turning to jazz, she has developed a style in which songwriting is central, blending jazz harmonies, a soul groove and pop touches, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and lyrics. On stage she alternates reinterpretations of standards, covers from other repertoires and original compositions, often in small ensembles or in collaboration with drummer and arranger Dan Pugach, with whom she co-wrote the arrangement of “Jolene” for a nonet. Her discography under her own name includes “Pariah Anthem” (2012), “Hive Mind” (2017), “Generations of Her: Words and Music of Women” (2019), focused on women creators who inspire her, and “How Love Begins” (2023), a vocal jazz album that was awarded a Grammy in 2024. Active in the New York club scene and a regular guest with larger ensembles such as the Birdland Big Band, Nicole Zuraitis continues to pursue work that intersects songwriting, improvisation and the search for a supple, narrative group sound.