Kathleen Grace
Divas of Jazz
Kathleen Grace is a vocalist, songwriter, and educator whose artistry bridges jazz, folk, and Americana with effortless authenticity. Described by The Washington Post as “smart, alluring and evocative,” Grace grew up in the wide-open landscapes of the American West—a backdrop that continues to shape her music.
With roots in jazz, her sound blends tradition with modernity, moving fluidly through blues, folk, and pop with what JazzTimes calls “genre-blurring dexterity.” While her foundation lies in jazz, Grace describes it as a guiding philosophy rather than a check-box classification:
"Jazz is a value system. I may not always be creating music specific to that space, but I try to let its deepest truths—freedom, listening, and trust—shape my path."
Over time, Grace’s evolution has led her to an expansive career, not only as an interpreter of song, but also a respected songwriter in the modern folk and Americana worlds. Her recent, acclaimed album “Tie Me To You” with collaborator and pianist Larry Goldings is often a one-take, intimate portrait of love and letting go. With music borrowing from classical, jazz, and French new wave, Pop Matters declared it “a wonderfully restrained moment.” Her prior album, No Place To Fall, was a sun-drenched landscape of music rooted in her desert upbringing. The LA Weekly praised: “Grace’s bright, clear voice reflects simple beauty and subtle wisdom.”
In 2024, Grace collaborated on solo film and television projects with composers FINNEAS and Andrew Bird. She has performed with Portugal the Man at the American Music Awards and the Coachella Music Festival and has recorded with Jim James.
Grace has appeared at major festivals across the U.S., Europe, and South America, was a finalist in the Montreux International Jazz Vocal Competition, and participated in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She is currently on faculty at the University of Southern California’s Flora L. Thornton School of Music.
Kathleen is one of the featured vocalists in the RJO's Divas of Jazz performance coming October 11, 2026 at Nightingale Concert Hall, University of Nevada, Reno.