With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice” (Jazz Police), 2X GRAMMY® Award-winning (and 4x-nominee) jazz vocalist Nicole Zuraitis has captivated audiences worldwide. She is a trailblazing artist who is redefining vocal jazz, earning her a place as one of the top artists and “prolific songwriters” (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond. The New York-based jazz singer-songwriter and pianist recently sold out Dizzy’s Club in her Jazz at Lincoln Center bandleader debut, and her sixth and most recent album, How Love Begins, won the GRAMMY for BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM. Co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride, the record features all original music. Nicole is the only artist ever to have won this award who wrote and arranged the entire album herself. An ardent environmentalist, her album release coincided with a self-produced day-long fundraiser for Save the Sound at Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport, CT.
Winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal, Nicole has established herself as a staple on the New York jazz scene, headlining such venues as Birdland, Blue Note, Dizzy’s, and more. As a touring artist, she has made a significant mark on the global modern jazz landscape, appearing as a featured soloist with Savannah Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony, and other noted pops orchestras. Additionally, she has played and sung with iconic singers such as Morgan James and Darren Criss.
Nicole is a featured artist and producer on her husband, renowned drummer, bandleader, and composer Dan Pugach’s 2025 GRAMMY-winning album, “Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence” (Best Large Ensemble) for which they composed the GRAMMY-nominated song, “Little Fears” (Best Jazz Performance). Nicole is a vocalist on the GRAMMY-winning “Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration” alongside Jon Batiste, Keb’ Mo’, and LeeAnn Rimes. In 2024, Broadway World honored Nicole with the “Best Big Band Show” Award. Nicole’s arrangement of Dolly Parton’s Jolene, co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®, springboarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. In 2020, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine, and her weekly livestream during the Covid-19 crisis, “Virtual Piano Lounge,” was featured in Forbes Magazine.
Nicole’s critically acclaimed 2018 release, Hive Mind (Dot Time Records), earned the title of ‘Best Jazz Album’ in the 2018 International Music and Entertainment Awards. She was a finalist in the International Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition, and her original composition “The Coffee Song” won the New York City Coffee Music Project Songwriting Competition. Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries, including Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Omar Hakim, Melanie Safka, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and teaches jazz and songwriting worldwide, having held positions at Berklee College of Music, SAM in India, The Australian Embassy, and the Lithuanian Consulate. She currently serves on faculty at New York University. In 2024, Post University awarded Nicole an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters.
For more information, visit www.nicolezmusic.com or tag @nicolezmusic.