Biography
2008 BackStage Magazine Bistro Award
THE BMI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING RECORDING
2008 Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs
BEST FEMALE JAZZ VOCALIST & BEST JAZZ RECORDING Nominee
2007 Cabaret Hotline Online
MEMBERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR RECORDING
Linda Kosut’s torchy contralto combined with her strong acting chops, make this San Francisco-based jazz/cabaret vocalist pure entertainment. Linda effortlessly weaves through differing genres – a delightful fusion of jazz, pop and folk. Linda has performed to full houses at some of the most renowned jazz clubs in the country from New York's Iridium Jazz Club to Los Angeles’ Jazz Bakery to San Francisco’s Yoshi’s Jazz Club.
Growing up in New York City and transplanted to San Francisco over 20 years ago, Linda only began pursuing her dream of performing a few years ago as she approached “boomer” status, and she has not stopped since. “I am sure that I am not alone in my journey to satisfy a creative bug I’ve had my whole life; but one that up until nearing ‘retirement’ status, I did not pursue,” says Linda. “The excitement of doing my dreams translates to my audience. I have nothing to give but myself and I know that I give that to them. They tell me how I have inspired them. It is my sheer pleasure to do so.”
After starting on her musical career path in 2000, by 2003 she had released her highly acclaimed debut CD, Life is But a Dream – a mix of jazz standards and pop tunes. The CD was selected as one of the top female vocalist recordings by Cabaret Hotline, New York.
Her recent national tour – an inspired tribute show to the late jazz legend Oscar Brown Jr. –celebrated Linda’s sophomore CD and garnered packed houses, awards and national recognition from the Jazz Times to the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times’ Don Heckman said of her, “… a style of her own with its warm, dark sound and articulate, theatrically trained phrasing, deserved a far longer run. ” “[She] is the real thing,” wrote the San Francisco Bay Times. “Fabulously talented cabaret chanteuse, multi-talented Kosut knows just when to play it small and quiet and when to let ‘er rip ... A perfect accompaniment to dinner with friends.” And the LA Jazz Scene wrote "... a new female jazz singer who commands one’s attention ... a vocal performance which deserves mention."
Last year, Kosut received BackStage Magazine’s Bistro Award – the BMI Award for Outstanding Recording. She also received nominations for Best Female Jazz Vocalist and Best Jazz Recording from MAC, Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs; plus the Cabaret Hotline 2008 Members’ Choice Award.
Linda grew up in a musical family, her parents’ both amateur singers and pianists; she studied dance and piano as a young girl, in New York studied acting at the Claude Underwood Studios and voice and cabaret performance under the tutelage of Ellie Ellsworth at The Actors Institute. She is a 1990 Fellow of the Cabaret Symposium of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.
Linda is a founder of the now-defunct San Francisco vocal trio The Kitchenettes known for their swinging jazz renditions of food & lust related songs. Before their break-up to pursue solo careers, the group performed throughout California, in Italy and recorded a CD of their most popular tunes.
Linda is also a singers’ coach working with vocalists on their performance technique, lyric interpretation and stage presentation, as well as producing showcases for emerging vocal performers. In addition, Linda designs marketing material for performing artists and performance organizations. She lives in San Francisco with her fiancé, their 2 dogs, 5 chickens, 2 turtles and 40 aquariums!
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ON THE INTERNET
Official Website: www.lindakosut.com
Electronic Press Kit: www.sonicbids.com/lindakosut
My Space: www.myspace.com/lindakosut2
Videos: www.youtube.com/jizelmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lindakosut
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindakosut
Blog: www.lindakosut.wordpress.com
DISCOGRAPHY
 JUNE 2007: "Long As You're Living- the songs & poetry of Oscar Brown Jr.” - www.cdbaby.com/kosut2
Piano/trombone: Max Perkoff; Percussion: Paul van Wageningen; Bass: Tom Shader.
 JANUARY 2003: "Life is but a dream" - www.cdbaby.com/kosut
piano: Barry Lloyd, David Austin; Bass: Dean Reilly; Drums: Bob Blankenship.
 SEPTEMBER 2003: “Dining at The Banquet” with The Kitchenettes trio. - www.cdbaby.com/kitchenettes
Piano: Barry Lloyd; Bass: Mike Bacile; Percussion: Ron Marabuto.
Instrumentation
Linda Kosut, vocalist, performs with solo piano or trio or larger band. Among the outstanding musicians who play in her band across the country are Max Perkoff, piano & trombone; Ken Muir, piano; Barry Lloyd, piano. On bass, Tom Shader, Daniel Fabricant, Fred Randolph, Tim Emmons, Tim Ferguson, Stewart Miller, Tom Hubbard; on percussion, Paul van Wageningen, John Mader, Jack LeCompte, Frank Parker Jr., David Rokeach, Scott Latzky. And saxophone, Fil Lorenz, "Sweet" Sue Terry
Discography
RELEASE DATE - JUNE 1 2007: "Long As You're Living" the songs & poetry of Oscar Brown Jr. with Max Perkoff, piano/trombone; Paul van Wageningen, percussion; Tom Shader, bass, Listen to tracks on her website www.lindakosut.com/music.htm and at www.cdbaby.com/kosut2
BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE'S 2008 BISTRO AWARD WINNER FOR OUTSTANDING RECORDING.
Tracks:
1. A Tree and Me
2. Mr. Kicks
3. Hazel's Hips
4. Summer In The City
5. A Column of Birds
6. 'Round Midnight & The Beach
7. Brother, Where Are You?
8. Bid 'Em In
9. The Call of the City
10. The Snake
11. Old Lovers' Song
12. Humdrum Blues
13. Tower of Time
14. Long As You're Living
The extent of the Oscar Brown Jr. catalog of music is practically unknown today. Some of the songs on this CD are classic OBJ, while others, relatively unknown. Linda has taken this music - considered jazz and even folk or theater - and made it universal in its appeal with earnestness, and of course, her voice - a smoky plaintiveness that is both silky & sensuous, lending the right mood to the music of this great jazz legend.
RELEASE DATE, SEPTEMBER 2003: "Life is but a dream" - piano: Barry Lloyd, David Austin; Bass: Dean Reilly; Drums: Bob Blankenship. Listen to tracks at her website at www.lindakosut.com/music.html or www.cdbaby.com/cd/kosut:
1. I Think It's Going To Rain Today
2. Walking in Memphis
3. Peel Me A Grape
4, Skylark
5. Teach Me Tonight
6. Come To My House
7. My Romance
8. If I Were A Bell
9. What You'd Call A Dream
10. Dat Dere
11. Factory/The Mason
12. Boats Against The Current
The common thread in this collection of songs from folk-rock to jazz standards, from Randy Newman to Dave Frishberg to Rogers & Hart, is Linda's styling, phrasing and emotional connection to the lyrics. A pleasurable and listenable CD. Tracks of this CD have been played nationally on jazz stations.
"The CD is simply exquisite! Everything about it: vocals, arrangements, and variety. I really can't say enough. I wonder if Oscar [Brown Jr.] ever got a chance to hear your Dat Dere. I'm sure he would have been delighted. Your album is a breath of fresh air from San Francisco!" - Norman Curtis, New York-based BMI songwriter and composer; Oscar Brown Jr.’s music collaborator; pianist who has performed in Europe and extensively in the U.S.
SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP CABARET CDs of 2003 - "Linda Kosut's LIFE IS BUT A DREAM - the lady is incredible, the CD a gem!" --- Stu Hamstra, www.CabaretHotlineOnline.com
OTHER CDs:
Dining at The Banquet with The Kitchenettes girl trio
Lo Shomano, Italian National Comic Song Festival CDm
Links
| http://www.lindakosut.com |