Nicole Zuraitis: ‘Live at Vic’s’

Having seen the totally marvellous Nicole Zuraitis performing live in London in July 2024 with her London trio, it is a delight to hear the singer with a larger ensemble. ‘Live At Vic’s’ allows this vocalist, pianist and songwriter to wow the audience in the eponymous Las Vegas jazz club, as well as listeners to this new CD.

From the opening blues Got My Mojo Working through the gorgeous swinging The Nearness of You and the comic I Like You a Latte (the Coffee Song), the Grammy-winning Zuraitis plays with the audience as much as with her eminent band.

Speaking of which, this is just a lovely ensemble, including long-established musical partner Dan Pugach (drums) plus Idan Morim (guitar) and Samuel Weber (bass). Special guests are Keyon Harold (trumpet), Rachel Eckroth (organ) and Tom Scott (sax).

When I saw her in London, Zuraitis was still celebrating her 2024 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal album with How Love Begins: particularly historic as she was the first independent artist to win in this category (who also wrote and arranged the entire album themselves). Now she is also part of the Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble alongside partner and collaborator Dan Pugach for Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence, inspired by their mutual passion for rescuing and fostering dogs.

Not only did I catch Nicole on stage in July 2024, but I also interviewed her earlier this year for Harmonious World. Listen to our chat here.

Zuraitis explains something of what makes Live at Vic’s so special: “It’s jazz. The magic of it is the improv. So the songs are 11 minutes, and everybody’s shredding. I wanted to make an album for people of songs that I adore. This feels like the pinnacle of my career to get onstage and go: This is what I sound like. Every single thing on this album is arranged by me or written by me. It’s all live, unedited. No auto tune.  Everything is here.”

If you only listen to one track from this album, make it the terrific arrangement of Wichita Lineman - seven minutes of jazz and vocal gymnastics that made me immediately check out Zuraitis’s tour dates to see where I can hear her next.