The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Nicole Zuraitis joins musicians for night of jazz
TORRINGTON — The Torrington Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maurice Steinberg, will present “All That Jazz, Part 2” on Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 70 Litchfield Street, Torrington.
The concert is her second with the symphony; the first was “All that Jazz” in March 2018.
The performance will feature vocalist, pianist, and songwriter, Nicole Zuraitis, with music by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.
In January, Zuraitis and her husband, musician Dan Pugach, learned they had been nominated for a Grammy, for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals, for their interpretation of “Jolene,” written and sung by Dolly Parton, who released the song in 1973.
Zuraitis said she heard the song from a friend and would play it at home. When she met Pugach, she said, he learned of her love for the song and created his own arrangement of Zuraitis’ version. It became a song with personal meaning for them both. She met her husband through friends at the Litchfield Jazz Camp. They have performed together since 2009 and were married in 2018.
Zuraitis recently returned from a singing tour and is likely to share many of her favorite melodies with the audience at the symphony concert.
General admission tickets are $22, with a cash bar and snacks available for purchase. Reservations are encouraged; call 860-214-3347. Tickets are limited at the door.
From http://www.nicolezmusic.com: Zuraitis blends bountiful songwriting skills, an effervescent presence and dazzling vocals in a consummate package that has thrilled audiences across Manhattan and across the world. Zuraitis is the 2016 New York City Songwriting Competition Coffee Music Project Winner, 2015 second runner-up in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2014 Herb Albert ASCAP Young Composer Awards Winner. She’s also the Peoples Choice and Johnny Mercer Award winner in the National American Traditions Vocal Competition. Zuraitis has headlined the Blue Note (NYC) and maintains residencies at the 55 Bar (every second Thursday of the month), Rockwood Music Hall (with the Dan Pugach Nonet), and Redeye Grill.
While pursuing a career that has spanned jazz, pop and classical, Zuraitis has collaborated with Cyrille Aimee, Thana Alexa, Dave Stryker, Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Omar Hakim, Melanie Safka, Helen Sung and Bernard Purdie. She’s performed at festivals nationwide, and has recorded two albums: 2013’s Pariah Anthem and 2009’s Spread The Word, both releases featuring the cream of New York’s jazz hierarchy.
Her new recording, “Hive Mind” (Dot Time Records), chronicles themes close to her heart, including an unflinching love of family and friends delivered with a sincere spirit that finds release in eight intimate original compositions (and two covers) which span genres. She has two self-released albums under her belt, including the 2013 release “Pariah Anthem” (Victor Gould, Ilan Bar Lavi, Nandini Srikar) and the 2009 release “Spread The Word,” featuring Winard Harper and the Curtis Brothers. Her third album “Hive Mind” will be released in 2017.
Her world music band EVA just released the EP “Take Some Air” to rave reviews. She continues working with producer Tim Walsh of The Stepkids on an electronic pop alter ego called “nikki and the riot.”
Zuraitis is also a faculty member of the Litchfield Jazz Camp. She has taught song- writing and jazz vocal workshops worldwide, including the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in India, Israel Embassy, Australian consulate and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She was featured in a video interview by Columbia News Tonight as “New Yorker of the week” for her work with music and shelter animals and hopes to continue giving back by raising awareness for the mental health stigma. Zuraitis is a native of Litchfield and attended Litchfield High School.
To learn more about the Torrington Symphony Orchestra, visit www.torrington symphony.org.