Sunday, November 19, Noon - 3 pm

What happens when you are accompanied by a single instrument occupying the space below so your voice feels suspended in midair? Singing ballads accompanied by the bass is a beautifully vulnerable and intimate experience for both the performers and the audience. This practice reveals every nuance of both instruments, drawing the listener in and creating space for intricate interactions while amplifying various possibilities of expression.

We’ll get started with a vocal warm-up based on LoVetri methods, to be followed by a presentation of various musical examples and a discussion covering important considerations for the voice and bass duo. In the final section of the workshop, we’ll collaboratively develop arrangements with the bassist with a focus on voice leading, key signatures, negotiation of tempo and pitch, and encouraging deep listening while singing. Open to all. Students should bring a lead sheet for a song of their choice in the appropriate key. The workshop will be accompanied by bassist Mat Muntz.

About Astrid Kuljanic

Renowned for her complex musical sensibility and supple sound, Croatian vocalist Astrid Kuljanic has immersed herself in an eclectic variety of musical traditions from around the world. Her journey from the Balkans to New York has allowed her to absorb jazz, Brazilian, and Indian music and acquire advanced knowledge of performing with electronics using Ableton Live. Astrid is equally skilled in faithful interpretations of these styles as she is inventive in her own arrangements – employing mixed meters and folk harmonies personally and authentically. With her New York quartet Astrid Kuljanic Transatlantic Exploration Company, she celebrated the debut album Riva released for OneTrickDog* Records with a sold-out concert at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. With her Croatian-Slovenian band Mildreds, she recorded two albums for Aquarius Records. The band is the subject of a 2021 documentary film. In addition to her work as a bandleader, Astrid is a frequent collaborator on various projects. In 2020 she was a part of Thana Alexa’s album ONA, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album. Also In 2020, Astrid was recognized by Brooklyn Arts Council with a grant to support her project Why Are You Gone?, a concert program centered on themes of migration pertaining to various communities in Brooklyn, NY. This music will be featured on her next recording, a duo with bassist Mat Muntz. Ms. Kuljanic’s mission is to engage audiences across cultural boundaries. To that end, she founded Crescendo Music Festival (Croatia), which has been exposing a diverse array of international artists to local audiences for more than a decade. Astrid holds a Bachelor of Music from the Conservatory G. Tartini, Trieste, Italy, and a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, and Gretchen Parlato.