Camille Thurman (born December 22, 1986) is an American jazz saxophonist, singer, composer, and member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.[1][2] Her first two albums, released by Chesky Records in 2018 and 2017, peaked at #3 and #25 respectively on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart.[3] She has performed at the Kennedy Center, and was a runner up for the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.[2][4]
Camille Thurman | |
|---|---|
 Camille Thurman in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | December 22, 1986 Queens, New York |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute, vocals |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Chesky |
| Website | camillethurmanmusic |
Early life edit
Thurman took up music at a young age, as she grew up in the St. Albans section of Queens, New York, practicing vocals, piano, and flute before attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts.[5][6][2] She first picked up the tenor saxophone, the instrument she is best known for playing, at the age of 15.[7] She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in geological & environmental science from Binghamton University.[2][5]
Musical career edit
Thurman moved back to New York City following her graduation, and played with a wide array of jazz musicians, particularly crediting saxophone player Tia Fuller and vocalist/bassist Mimi Jones with helping her in those early years.[5] Thurman went on to place as a finalist in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, garnering much attention, and leading to her first record deal.[5]
Later in 2013, Thurman released her first album, Origins, on Jones' label, Hot Tone Music.[2] She followed up with her second album on Hot Tone, Spirit Child, in 2014.[2]
Over December 2014 to January 2015 Thurman appeared alongside Charenee Wade, Cyrille Aimée, Allan Harris and an eight-piece band including bassist Mimi Jones in Alex Webb (musician)'s jazz theatre show Cafe Society Swing, at New York's 59E59 Theaters, which received a Critic's Pick from the New York Times.[8]
Thurman later signed to Chesky Records, and released her third album, Inside the Moment, on May 19, 2017, which debuted at #25 on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart.[2][3]
Thurman released her fourth album, Waiting for the Sunrise, through Chesky Records on August 24, 2018, and the album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums Chart.[2][3]
Awards and honors edit
- 16th Independent Music Award Nominated - Jazz Song with Vocals "Cherokee"[9]
- 17th Independent Music Award - Jazz Album with Vocals - Waiting for the Sunrise[10]
- 17th Independent Music Award - Jazz Song with Vocals - "The Nearness of You"[10]
- NAACP 50th Image Awards Nominated - Outstanding Jazz Album[11][12]
References edit
- ^ Jazz, All About. "Camille Thurman @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz Musicians. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Camille Thurman | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ a b c "Camille Thurman Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-17.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Camille Thurman". www.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ a b c d "Camille Thurman Finds Her Voice on 'Waiting For The Sunrise'". DownBeat Magazine. 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ "Watch: Camille Thurman – Live at The Jazz Gallery". Jazz Speaks. Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ "Camille Thurman Is A Rare Jazz Double Threat". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ "Rich Songs Tell a Jazz Club's Bittersweet Story". nytimes.com/. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- ^ "The 16th Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced". Independent Music Awards. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
- ^ a b "The 17th Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ "NAACP | WINNERS OF THE 50th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT DURING NON-TELEVISED AWARDS DINNER AT THE BEVERLY HILTON". NAACP. 2019-03-30. Archived from the original on 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ "Camille Thurman attends the 50th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles". UPI. Retrieved 2019-11-17.