BIO
Katia Cardenas is a luminous, multi-genre vocalist, who has performed nation-wide, inspiring audiences with her smooth, powerful voice and infectious, uplifting energy. Recognized for her impeccable range, and dynamic stylings, she has been performing since an early age. Katia has been most influenced by Ella Fitzgerald’s spirited jazz standards, Aretha Franklin’s high-powered R&B flavors and Astrid Giberto’s dulcet bossa tones. Performing an inspired and enticing variety of musical styles with the Twin Cities top jazz players, she has been described as “a young but veteran vocalist who can cover Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, yet is equally adept at modern folk/pop/blues,” with “the pipes to get over an R&B tune, but also has the instincts and subtlety to handle jazz standards.”
Making music the Twin Cities has been a family tradition ever since her father, keyboardist Mark Cardenas, joined “The Time” in the early 1980s and appeared in Prince’s iconic film, "Purple Rain." Katia emerged on the Twin Cities music scene in 2014, and has quickly risen to prominence, performing at respected venues and events throughout Minneapolis/St. Paul, including Dakota Jazz Club, The Icehouse, Crooners, Jazz Central Studios, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog, Twin Cities Jazz Festival and more! Come see what all the buzz is about...
PHOTOS
MUSIC
Katia's Debut EP "I'll Be Seeing You" (2016) is a self-produced, seven track EP recorded at in Minneapolis, MN, and showcases her passion for classic American and Latin music, and the genuine simplicity of live instrumentation. The album features a tasteful mix of traditional jazz standards and reinvented renditions of songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Carole King, and more. Instrumentalists include Ted Godbout (Keys), Andrew Foreman (Bass) and Zach Schmidt (Percussion). The CD has seen consistent local radio play on Jazz88- KBEM 88.5 Minneapolis/St. Paul, and KFAI 90.3/106.7. It has also been regularly streamed on Spotify and Apple Music, with downloaded from iTunes and CD Baby.
“It’s fair to say that, after hearing Katia’s recording, as well as her live performances, people will want to hear more... Throughout the album, with her clean articulation, Katia indeed convinces the listener that these songs, these lyrics, are important to her, and should be to the rest of us... It does succeed as a validation of her personal commitment to her music, as a document of her current skill and repertoire, as a launching point for what comes next.”
Quotes
“One of the fastest rising stars on the Twin Cities jazz scene…Katia Cardenas is a young but veteran vocalist who can cover Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, yet is equally adept at modern folk/pop/blues. This is no surprise given her background in music since early childhood”
“Katia Cardenas has long since been embraced by elders and peers alike. This is due mostly to raw talent, but she has an affability and charm that is impossible to resist. Katia is that rare jazz vocalist who can scat and bop with the best, but also knows a good pop tune or two. It’s called working the crowd!”
“Listen to her pure voice and beautiful treatment of the phrasing and melody. Just beautiful!!! Fun to really hear you! <3”
“Katia Cardenas has the pipes to get over an R&B tune, but also has the instincts and subtlety to handle jazz standards.”
“Don’t miss her dynamic, beautiful and nuanced performances.”
“Katia Cardenas is a beautiful soul. And beautiful souls deserve a larger voice - wait, she already has that.”
