Kristin Korb

The Vocal Side of Ray Brown Kristin Korb - vocals/double bass Josh Nelson - piano Kevin van den Elzen - drums Expect sophisticated and elegant swinging bass playing from internationally acclaimed artist Kristin Korb while she sings with a crystal-clear singing voice. Considered by many to be the father of jazz bass, Ray Brown was more than that. He combined the walking lines of Walter Page and the soloing ideas of Oscar Pettiford and made jazz bass playing what it is today. Ray worked with everyone. From Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, and more. His bass lines were foundational and made everything swing with warmth and a drive like no other. Ray was also known as a mentor to young musicians. "I was fortunate enough to be one of his students. The Vocal Side of Ray Brown is a curated program that includes some of my favorite treasures from his songbook, songs inspired by lessons I learned from him, and some original gems that you might not have heard before. 2026 is the year to celebrate 100 years of Ray Brown: the music AND the man.” ~ Kristen Korb About Kristin Korb Few bassists can sing, and there are even fewer who can do it well. Kristin Korb is a rare breed of musician who effortlessly blends her talents as a bassist and vocalist, captivating listeners with her crystal-clear voice while expertly maneuvering the bass. With an impressive teaching background that spans prestigious institutions. She has taught at the University of Southern California, where she was coordinator of vocal jazz studies, Azuza Pacific University, Grossmont Community College, and was Director of Jazz Studies at Central Washington University. Korb is still very involved in educational outreach and teaches at universities, jazz camps, and festivals with young students. She earned her Music Education degree at Eastern Montana College and her master's in Classical Bass Performance at the University of California, San Diego. It was while she was a student at UCSD that her professor, Bertram Turetzky, inspired her to sing and play the bass at the same time. She also studied with jazz legend Ray Brown, with whom she made her recording debut, Introducing Kristin Korb, in 1996. She has since released nine albums, plus the latest critically acclaimed double album, Why Not?/What If? (2021). Her latest project, Sweet Dreams (out October 25, 2024), is more than just a cover album. Kristin Korb reimagines Eurythmics’ classics through her jazz-infused lens, weaving vibrant new arrangements and interpretations. The project began with a sensational live debut at the legendary Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2023. The crowd went crazy, and the enthusiastic response spurred Kristin and her band to capture this magic in the studio, resulting in twelve carefully curated tracks that embody the essence of Eurythmics with a jazz twist. In 2011, love led Kristin Korb to Denmark, where she now resides with her Danish husband, continuing her musical career – and to inspire budding musicians through educational outreach programs across Europe and the US. When she’s not playing music, Kristin enjoys going to the gym, maintaining her position as family salad ninja, and exploring the world of wine tasting through travel. “She has a way of taking anything and making it sound cool!" - London Jazz News “Though many a fine bassist-Jay Leonhart, John Miller and Clipper Anderson among them-occasionally sings, Kristin Korb numbers among the rare few who excel at both. When Korb launched her recording career in 1996, she ceded bass duties to her mentor and hero, Ray Brown. Since then, across five albums including What’s Your Story?, she has accompanied herself, maintaining a distinctly Brown-tinged bass style… As a singer…(has) an ability to sidle up to a song, size it up and, with vaguely cynical cautiousness, nail its emotional heart.” Christopher Loudon, Writer - JazzTimes Magazine