Jazz singer Deborah J. Carter, known for her warm stage persona and virtuoso style, was born in the U.S.A. and grew up in Hawaii and Japan. Her versatility allows her to feel at home in both mainstream jazz and contemporary crossover projects with various influences.
She toured with her own band, or as a guest with various formations ranging from solo pianist to orchestra and in recent years she can be found on jazz stages in Japan, China, Germany, India, Croatia, Canada, Spain, Russia, Venezuela, Colombia, Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, United Emirates and many more.
A new album by Deborah will be released soon, a tribute to pianist/composer Chick Corea, recorded with the band Zandscape with whom she previously collaborated on a live CD, and the Zandzemble project with string quartet.
Previously released:
“Diggin’ the Duke”, on which she sheds a whole new and personal light on known and unknown repertoire of the famous composer, bandleader and jazz pioneer Duke Ellington,
“Blue Notes and Red Shoes”, recorded with her regular trio, with as internationally renowned guest soloists Jan Akkerman and Leonardo Amuedo.
“Daytripper”, a CD of Deborah’s surprisingly original jazz arrangements of the Beatles, entitled .
“Girl-Talking!”, a live recording that captures Deborah’s dynamic live performance.
“Round Moonlight”, a homage to the moon and the nocturnal hours.
“Scuse Me…”, a subtle mix of jazz, latin, blues and gospel.
At a very young age Deborah began as a woodwind instrumentalist in Hawaii and later started learning music theory, arranging, and composition in her early teens in Japan. She continued her studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. “All throughout my younger years I was blessed with wonderful teachers and friends that encouraged and inspired me to flourish and grow in music.”
During her time in Asia she also became acquainted with the theater, and played various roles in Broadway musicals presented by an American theater group there. In Spain, Deborah sang on the Mediterranean jazz CDs of Max Sunyer, Carles Benavent and Salvador Niebla, and taught for many years at the renowned Musikene conservatory in San Sebastian. Deborah currently has an appointment at the Hochschule in Osnabrück, Germany. Jazz vocal students around the world participated in Deborah’s numerous seminars and workshops.
Deborah Carter has been heard with her own group at most jazz festivals in the Netherlands and she is a welcome guest artist with various established jazz orchestras such as the Hessische Rundfunk Big Band, The Deutsche Oper Berlin Bigband and Symphony Orchestra, the Sedavi Latin Jazz Big Band, the Metropole Orkest, the Timeless Orchestra, and the Konrad Koselleck Bigband.
Deborah was featured in various radio and TV programs. In recent years toured Dutch theaters with New York Round Midnight / Harlem Swings. She previously performed on these stages with, among others: Fado Blue (with Fernando Lameirinhas) and The Legends (including Frits Landesbergen)