"Every so often someone comes along and makes you remember why you started playing jazz. It’s a pleasure to hear such astoundingly clear jazz authenticity."
Peter Bishop, City of Sydney Jazz Vocal Competition

"I’m so excited about Karlie Bruce. Every once in a while God gifts someone with a tonal quality - God she’s good."
Michael Bublé

"..nothing short of sensational."
Bob Rogers, Radio 2CH

"She came. She sang. She got a standing ovation."
Sophie Hodges, Nine To Five Magazine

About

At 26 years of age, Karlie Bruce is one of the most in demand vocalists on the Australian and International music scene.

Karlie’s early study of piano and saxophone soon led her to her voice, which has since taken her interstate and overseas to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Europe and the USA. Karlie recently completed a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education degree at the University of New South Wales, has undertaken further study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has studied internationally under the guidance of such artists as Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon and pianist/composer Bruce Barth.

Karlie’s contemporary and classical training has provided her with solo and ensemble performance opportunities in jazz, soul, funk, a cappella, music theatre, popular and concert hall music. It is Karlie’s passion for jazz however, that has allowed performances for such dignitaries as the Director General and Minister for Education, Australian Parliament, Leona Edmiston for Australian Fashion Week 2005, The Leading Lady Entrepreneurs of the World and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Karlie has performed at many prestigious Sydney venues including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, Darling Harbour Convention and Exhibition Centres, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Fox Studios and the Sydney Entertainment Centre. She has held stage at Sydney’s finest venues and live music establishments including Wine Banq, The Basement, Café Sydney, the Side On Café, the Opera Bar, the Astral Bar, The Starfish Club and the Soup Plus Jazz Restaurant. Karlie also has extensive corporate experience, with clients including Price Waterhouse Coopers, Westfield, Bombay Sapphire, Babcock and Brown and David Jones, Australia.

In September of 2003, Karlie was invited to open for and perform with double-platinum recording artist, Michael Bublé and his band during his sold out Australian tour.

In July of 2005, Karlie was awarded 3rd place in the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition, held at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Karlie was also the only Australian semi-finalist in the 2004 Jazzconnect Vocal Jazz Competition, featuring in the Top 5 list of two judges, Jim Byers and Nicole Yarling.

From March 2003 to June 2005 when she departed for New York City, Karlie was the artist in residence at the Sydney Park Hyatt Hotel, Sydney’s leading hotel for discerning business and leisure travellers and world famous celebrities.

Karlie’s self-titled debut album was released on Australia’s leading independent jazz label, La Brava, in April 2005. The album gained numerous accolades and was featured as “Album of The Week” on ABC Radio National, Australia.

In September 2005, Karlie’s album, newly titled “The Song Is You” by the Muzak label, was released in Japan, reaching No.3 in the HMV Japan Jazz Vocal Charts (behind only Norah Jones), No.9 in Tower Records and ranking No.2 in the prestigious Swing Journal Japan Jazz Charts.

In January 2006, Karlie was invited to undertake a master class with Dutch singer Fay Claassen and perform at the esteemed Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Lincoln Centre, as part of the prestigious 2006 International Association for Jazz Education Conference, the world’s largest annual gathering of the global jazz community.

Karlie is currently based in New York City. She has performed with some of America’s finest jazz musicians including Matt Wilson, Larry Goldings, Dennis Irwin and Terell Stafford. She has appeared as part of the JVC Jazz Festival and played such venues as New York's esteemed Carnegie Hall, Radio City, The Jazz Standard, Cleopatra’s Needle, The Bar Next Door, Kavehaz Jazz Gallery and Café, Creole Jazz Restaurant and the infamous Lenox Lounge.

Karlie was recently selected as one of six finalists in the 2006 London International Jazz Competition, held at the prestigious Cadogan Hall. She was also awarded 3rd place in the 2006 Brussels International Young Jazz Singers Competition, performing at both the Music Village Jazz Club and at Ancienne Belgique, one of the most famed concert venues in Belgium.

Karlie has recently returned from Europe, following a successful tour with her band throughout Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She can be heard playing venues in and around New York City with Allan Harris, Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts , Brooklyn's funkiest disco band, Escort and her own band, in anticipation of her second CD, due for release in 2008.