Peter Eldridge

Peter Eldridge

Genres: jazz

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About Peter Eldridge

Peter Eldridge is widely recognized as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary vocal jazz, celebrated for his artistry as a singer, pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. A founding member of the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble New York Voices, Eldridge has helped shape the modern sound of vocal jazz for more than three decades while simultaneously maintaining an expansive solo career that bridges jazz, pop, and singer-songwriter traditions. Born into a musical family—his father performed as a bassist with the Benny Goodman Orchestra—Eldridge developed a deep connection to both jazz and songcraft early in life. After studying at Ithaca College, he co-founded New York Voices in 1987 alongside fellow alumni Darmon Meader, Kim Nazarian, Caprice Fox, and Sara Krieger. The group quickly gained recognition for its sophisticated harmony writing, stylistic versatility, and seamless blend of jazz improvisation with elements of Brazilian music, pop, and classical vocal traditions. Since their debut recording in the late 80s, New York Voices has become one of the most respected vocal ensembles in jazz, collaborating with artists ranging from the Count Basie Orchestra to Paquito D’Rivera and appearing at major venues worldwide. award-winning collaborations and an extensive international touring career have cemented the ensemble’s reputation as a benchmark for vocal jazz performance. Parallel to his ensemble work, Eldridge has built a highly regarded solo career distinguished by lyrical songwriting and expressive interpretation. Critics have praised his music for combining melodic accessibility with emotional depth and harmonic sophistication, placing him in a lineage of artist-songwriters known for blending personal storytelling with jazz sensibilities. His recordings include Stranger in Town, which was named Best Jazz CD of the Year by Boston radio station WICN, as well as Fool No More, Decorum, Mad Heaven, and later collaborative projects such as Somewhere with pianist Kenny Werner and string ensemble. Eldridge’s collaborative résumé spans an impressive range of musical voices. He has performed and recorded with artists including Bobby McFerrin, Michael Brecker, George Benson, Joshua Redman, Fred Hersch, Meredith Monk, and David Byrne, among many others. He is also a member of the vocal collective MOSS, alongside Luciana Souza, Kate McGarry, Theo Bleckmann, and Lauren Kinhan. Equally influential as an educator, Eldridge has played a major role in shaping modern jazz vocal pedagogy. He served for eighteen years in the jazz voice department at the Manhattan School of Music before joining the faculty at Berklee College of Music, where he is Professor of Voice. At Berklee he teaches songwriting, arranging, private instruction, and performance courses centered on the Great American Songbook, mentoring emerging vocalists and composers from around the world. Balancing performing, composing, and teaching, Eldridge continues to move fluidly between genres and artistic roles. Whether on the concert stage, in the recording studio, or in the classroom, his work reflects a lifelong commitment to musical storytelling, expressive honesty, and the evolving possibilities of the human voice in jazz.

Taken from Last.fm

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