Lauren Henderson

Lauren Henderson is a jazz and latin jazz vocalist and composer from Massachusetts. Henderson's Caribbean and Latin Heritage are central themes in her original music and performance. Her eclectic vocal influences spread across genres. Her Afro-Latin roots aid in producing a distinct yet versatile sound. Lauren's diverse musical background is rooted in jazz and expands to rhythm and blues, latin, soul, gospel, classical, neo-soul, pop, nuevo-flamenco and many other genres. Beginning piano lessons at the age of 7 and singing in church and school choirs molded her into the musician she is today. Lauren has composed, performed, studied and directed music in the United States and internationally. Her travels are always incorporated in her compositions.

Currently based in New York, She has performed at various clubs and participated in workshops around the city including: Birdland, The Top of the Standard, Times Square, and Millesime of the famous, Carlton Hotel (where she has a Thursday Night Residency). Recently she performed with Grammy Nominated Vocalist, Jane Monheit, and pianist, Michael Kanan. She also was a finalist in the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival "Jazz Voice" Competition. Henderson has participated in the Barry Harris Workshop, led by the legendary jazz pianist.

Having earned college degrees in both Music and Hispanic Studies, Lauren continues to combine her love for music and culture. While living in Puebla, México she studied the traditional music of the Yucatán and popular music throughout the country at Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Through her international piano and voice studies, she worked on developing her musicianship. In Córdoba, España she studied flamenco and the similarities it shares with jazz. An avid nuevo-flamenco listener, Lauren often quotes the popular sounds of various countries while nurturing the roots of classic forms.

Her new recording, scheduled to be released on 3.20.2015, features Sullivan Fortner on piano (Impulse - Universal Music Group Artist and member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet and current finalist in the American Pianist Association 2015 Jazz Competition), Ameen Saleem on bass (Recording Artist and Member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet), Louis Fouche on alto saxophone (Member of Eddie Palmieri Afro-Carribean Sextet, Recording Artist and collaborator with Christian Scott), Jonathan Powell on trumpet (Member of Eddie Palmieri Afro-Carribean Sextet, Arturo O'Farrill's band and Grammy-Winning Record, and voted "Best Latin Jazz Trumpeter" 2009 by Latin Jazz Corner), Riley Mulherkar on trumpet (Member of Julliard, named "Rising Jazz Artist" by Wynton Marsalis), and Jeremy Bean Clemmons on drums and percussion (Award Winning Producer and prior member of Grammy Nominated, Andy Bey's Quartet, Member of Soul Understated).