Jamie Shew - Jazz Singer

With a “luminous” voice that melts hearts (Jazz Weekly) and a playful charm that lights up every stage, Jamie Shew has emerged as one of Southern California’s most beloved jazz vocalists. Hailed as “a swinging thrush that knows how to deliver” (Midwest Record), she captivates audiences worldwide with her expressive musical storytelling, effortless phrasing, soulful and inventive arrangements, and an unmistakable joyful presence. Her unique vocal style combines the timeless elegance of jazz with a modern edge, resulting in a sound that resonates with diverse audiences.

Renowned jazz critic Scott Yanow writes, “Jamie Shew has a strong, clear and attractive voice, sounding very comfortable in all registers. She can swing at every tempo, sounds at home interacting with jazz musicians, and is a subtle but creative improviser.”

Jamie grew up in the Tri-Cities, a group of towns in south-central Washington State, where music was a constant thread from the start. She began piano lessons at the age of four, and while the desire to sing was always strong, she was most often needed as an accompanist. That changed in her senior year of high school, when her choir director handed her a Karen Carpenter solo to sing - a pivotal moment that hooked her for life and set her on the path toward jazz.

She earned her Bachelor's in Music Education from Washington State University and a Master’s in Vocal Performance and Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University, where she studied with one of her favorite jazz vocalists, Sunny Wilkinson, and performed with the acclaimed Gold Company under Steve Zegree and Duane Davis. Jamie has served on the faculty at Fullerton College for over 22 years, teaching solo jazz voice, improvisation, and theory; directing award-winning vocal jazz ensembles; and mentoring the next generation of jazz artists. A sought-after adjudicator and clinician, she has also directed state honor vocal jazz ensembles in California and Washington.

Her latest release, Spicy, Classy (and a little) Sassy (May 2025), is a vibrant celebration of love in all its forms - bold, tender, complicated, and sometimes delightfully irreverent. Described by The Jazz Page as “a vibrant exploration of love’s many facets, in soulful reinterpretations and clever original compositions…delivered with sophistication, warmth, and a playful edge,” the album marks a return to joy following a season of loss. It follows her 2018 album Eyes Wide Open, a deeply personal tribute to her late husband, bassist Roger Shew, which chronicled their life and love with raw honesty and grace.

While Eyes Wide Open offered a cathartic farewell, Spicy, Classy (and a little) Sassy is a testament to resilience, rediscovery, and the transformative power of love and music. Featuring nine reimagined standards and three original songs, the album showcases Jamie’s talent not only as a vocalist, but as a thoughtful arranger with a gift for creating fresh textures and emotional nuance. Paris Move calls the result “a collection that feels timeless, yet unmistakably personal - a diary rendered in melody.” Spicy, Classy (and a little) Sassy features an all-star West Coast band, including Jeremy Siskind, Kait Dunton, Mike Scott, Lyman Medeiros, Mark Ferber, and guest vocalist Mario Jose. Bebop Spoken Here praised the album as “an enticing, most enjoyable, and downright fun visit,” calling Shew “an extremely talented singer and arranger” who makes “time, melody and lyrics playful - the key parts of her creative sandbox.”

Jamie Shew’s journey as a jazz vocalist is marked by a profound commitment to her art, an ability to convey deep emotional truths through her music, and an ever-present sense of humility and humor. Her voice, both technically skilled and expressively resonant, continues to mesmerize audiences and inspire fellow musicians. Through her performances, recordings, and educational work, Jamie remains a vital and influential figure in the world of jazz - proving that passion, hard work, joy, and a dose of not-taking-yourself-too-seriously go hand in hand in the pursuit of musical excellence.

Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, Jamie Shew reminds us that vulnerability is strength, storytelling is healing, and jazz is as much about reinvention as it is about tradition. And as JW Vibe noted, her music “paints the narrative of emotional survival and fresh mercies of meaningful new love…sparkling, soulful, swinging, sensitive, and yep—often sassy.”