Who: Kate Kortum
Vocal Jazz
Houston-born jazz vocalist Kate Kortum has emerged as one of the most captivating new voices in jazz. Known for her warm tone and imaginative storytelling, she fuses bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theatre into a sound that feels both timeless and boldly contemporary.
Kortum’s debut album Good Woman (Bandstand Presents, 2023) reimagines classic standards from a female perspective, earning over 3.5 million streams and online- praise for its inventive arrangements. Her highly anticipated sophomore release, Wild Woman (2025), continues to showcase her fearless artistry and modern approach to the jazz tradition.
A graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and The Juilliard School, Kortum has performed at premier venues and festivals including Newport Jazz Festival, SXSW, Birdland, Blue Note, Mezzrow, and Jazz at Lincoln Center with the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. She has collaborated with leading artists such as Cyrille Aimée, Peter Bernstein, Emmet Cohen, Bryan Carter, and Wynton Marsalis, and has been recognized with multiple DownBeat Magazine and National YoungArts awards.
With a voice that bridges tradition and innovation, Kate Kortum continues to define the next chapter of modern jazz.