Philanthropy Technology & The Performing Arts

Since locating in San Francisco in 1991, Kim Nalley has established herself as one of the best and most versatile jazz and blues vocalists of the current generation. Blues Access Magazine said,” God, this woman can sing!" “Nalley combines a lithe, beautiful sound, excellent diction, a compelling sense of swing with old-school razzle dazzle that can turn a chattering cocktail sipping crowd into a rapt audience of lifelong fans in minutes. A commanding performer of any style, she specializes in that genre of jazz on the nexus of jazz and blues in the tradition of the Count Basie vocalists, Billie Holiday, Helen Humes, Joe Williams and the mother diva Dinah Washington. However this is no slavish imitator, she has a modern sensibility that breathes new life into the standards and a keen harmonic intelligence that makes each tune uniquely her own.”
A versatile performer capable of thriving in almost any context, she created the chanteuse role in a European style dinner show, Teatro Zinzanni, a spot that was subsequently filled by performers such as Maria Muldaur, Ann Wilson, Joan Baez and Sandra Reaves-Phillips. Ms. Nalley made her debut on the Cabaret scene at the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention on June 5, 2000 at Town Hall in New York City, garnering praise from the legendary singer Julie Wilson. David M Schwartz from the Cabaret Organization said, "Her stylish performances made a real hit with the audience and gave evidence of a new talent for the world of cabaret. This young woman more than held her own in the distinguished company surrounding her." Kim Nalley then followed up with a successful run at one of cabaret's best venues, the Plush Room.
She had already been attracting the attention and support of such musical icons as, San Francisco Symphony conductor Michael Tilson Thomas when in 1999 she recorded the CD "Million Dollar Secret" on the Rounder/Bullseye label to both jazz and blues acclaim. She then began performing on both a national and international level at many of the world's major jazz and blues festivals including: Umbria Jazz Festival, Italy • Sacramento Jubilee • Monterey Jazz • Tokyo Jazz • Lincoln Center Midsummer Night Swing, NYC • New Orleans-by-the-Bay • San Francisco Jazz Festival • Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival • Pacific Rim Festival Honolulu • Mississippi Valley Blues Festival • Goodyear Jazz Festival • Du Maurier JazzFest in Vancouver and Jazz Festivals in British Columbia, Victoria and Edmonton. Kim Nalley is considered San Francisco's premier vocalist; San Francisco Magazine’s annual Best of the Bay Area, July 2000, lists Kim Nalley next to such luminaries as Francis Ford Coppola, Wayne Theibaud, and Joan Chen. In September 2002, Kim Nalley was nominated for a San Francisco Music Award.
This year Kim Nalley has produced her newest CD, "Need My Sugar" (CE Jazz & Blues/City Hall Records) which is now available nationally at all major music stores. It features Etta James' pianist Dave Mathews, the world-class bassist Jeff Chambers and Nocturne Band drummer, Kent Bryson. Both Mathews and Chambers playing featured on several Grammy Award nominated albums including two from this past year. Since its release this year, Need My Sugar" has reached #17 on the American Jazz Countdown Main Stream Jazz Chart. Kim Nalley says, "I think that this CD will appeal to both the jazz and blues crowds. There is something on there for everyone. Everyone loves the Latin groove on "Nature Boy," I have DJs asking to remix it, "At Last" is just so soulful with Dave Mathews' playing and the jazz numbers just plain swing." Here is what the critics say about the CD "Need My Sugar."
Kim Nalley also performs frequently in the classic Big Band setting. She has appeared with, Marcus Shelby and his Orchestra. Shelby's arrangements for Kim as vocalist in his 14-piece orchestra are thoroughly modern but reminiscent of the early Columbia years of Sarah Vaughan. Their performance, "Tribute to Cole Porter" was recorded live by Bud Spangler for Sunday Night Suites which airs on KCSM. Kim Nalley has also performed bi-monthly with the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, an 18-piece big band, for over three years. Under the direction of Christopher Pitts they performed Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert as part of Duke's 100 Birthday Celebration. The libretto of this masterpiece includes movements in jazz, classical, blues and gospel tradition, and although was originally performed by four different female singers, Ms. Nalley utilizing her diverse experiences and formal classical training covered all the female parts with grace.
In addition to her musical career, Kim Nalley also sets aside time for community service. She has done fundraisers and benefits for the AIDS Foundation, National Suicide Prevention, Adult Literacy Foundation, worked as a lobbyist for the Nader PIRGs, California Abortion League, GreenPeace and has worked as a vocal/music teacher to economically under-privileged children. Kim Nalley says, "I was brought up in the projects amidst abject poverty and ignorance. Girls got pregnant at 14 or 15 and then went on welfare and everyone was selling drugs. I decided that by teaching music to disadvantaged children, I might be able to offer them some greater opportunity, or at least some greater hope and knowledge. And after all, knowledge is Truth and the Truth shall set you Free."