"Hammett-Vaughan is one of the best jazz singers in Canada, or anywhere for that matter... More than just a standards singer, she can do it all, and she does so with a rare sense of taste, imagination and sincerity." --Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal (more...)
See also: complete discography...
Kate Hammett-Vaughan with Bill Coon and Adam Thomas
2012 · KateHV
Sanzaru will be released very soon.
Coming soon
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Bill Coon · guitar
Adam Thomas · bass and voice
Kate Hammett-Vaughan and Bill Coon
2008 · KateHV
Two of Canada's finest jazz artists, vocalist Kate Hammett-Vaughan and guitarist Bill Coon make enchanting music together. Acclaimed for her sophisticated and swinging interpretations of jazz standards, Hammett-Vaughan's free-spirited delivery is perfectly matched by Coon's smooth-as-satin melodic style and irresistible swing. A three-time Juno nominee, Hammett-Vaughan has been acclaimed as “a revelation... a talent that all Canadians should recognize” (Toronto Star) and “the finest jazz vocal artist of her generation” (Chronicle Herald). Simply put, Bill Coon is one of the nation’s great jazz guitarists, a swinging and sensitive accompanist with an arranger’s ear and the whole history of jazz guitar under his fingers.
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Bill Coon · guitar
Kate Hammett-Vaughan Trio
2007 · KateHV
“…the finest vocal jazz artist of her generation… She dances the poetic lyrics of these songs over the capricious breezes of melody with the lightest touch on the tiller… Her care shows in the absolute clarity of her delivery of the words, which is all for the good. Every one of the nine songs on So Lucky To Be Me allows the singer to mine the depths of their meaning by way of subtle inflections of tone and timing, two aspects of musical expression at which Hammett-Vaughan excels.” —Stephen Pedersen (more...)
“one of Canada’s top jazz singers… she can improvise with the best… Kate Hammett-Vaughan has a highly expressive and lovely voice, one that is heard at its best throughout this accessible and tasteful set” – Scott Yanow (more...)
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Chris Gestrin · piano
André Lachance · bass
Kate Hammett-Vaughan Quintet
2006 · KateHV
“Kate Hammett-Vaughan demonstrates that improvisation for vocalists need not dwell in the domains of (re)interpretation of jazz standards or copping off pop tunes. (I’ve said it before that in addition to being one of the rare breed of contemporary art song improvisers, Kate Hammett-Vaughan is one of the great contemporary standards singers). The CD grew on me with each listening. Conspiracy, Art Songs for Improvisers, is sterling, a unique example of the high artistic plane a contemporary singer with imagination can reach.” —Laurence Svirchev (more...)
buy CD: CD Baby, iTunes
read more about the Conspiracy project...
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Chris Gestrin · piano
Mike Braverman · reeds
Cam Wilson · violin
André Lachance · bass
Tom Foster · drums
Kate Hammett-Vaughan Quintet
2004 · Maximum Jazz 14782
"The excellent Vancouver singer is back with a new disc that maintains her miraculously high standards of interpretation and emotional appeal. This singer is a marvelous storyteller with a bag of vocal tricks big enough to compel constant attention, and the knack of making everything she attempts sound newly minted and admirably assured as her free spirit roams and experiments." —Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star (more...)
"Profoundly musical... Deeper and more diverse than any of her earlier outings, Eclipse is proof that the song in Hammett-Vaughan's heart grows stronger day by day." —Alexander Varty, Georgia Straight (more...)
"Eclipse blazes with extended improvisations and tight ensemble work that give saxophonist Jim Pinchin and pianist Chris Gestrin frontline time to shine beside Hammett-Vaughan's expressive innovations." —Doug Fischer, Ottawa Citizen (more...)
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Chris Gestrin · piano
Jim Pinchin · tenor sax
André Lachance · bass
Tom Foster · drums
Kate Hammett-Vaughan Quintet
2002 · Maximum Jazz MAX-1201
"... whatever Hammett-Vaughan and her quintet chooses to perform, it's done with verve, élan, and a flawless sense of what they are supposed to do with the music." —Dave Nathan, All About Jazz (more...)
"Kate Hammett-Vaughan projects a warm tone, expressive phrasing and improvisational instinct on Devil May Care." —Chris Wong, Vancouver Courier (more...)
"Her singing – increasingly knowing and secure, as the formative influence of Sheila Jordan fades in favour of a style far more personal – is equally hip." —Mark Miller, The Globe and Mail (more...)
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · vocals
Chris Gestrin · piano
Jim Pinchin · saxophone
André Lachance · bass
Tom Foster · drums
Kate Hammett-Vaughan Quintet
1999 · Maximum Jazz MAX-0063
"Seldom do you hear from a singer such a spontaneous flow of compellingly apt improvised notes and phrases. Hammett-Vaughan binds them to the lyrics so tightly they become a gloss on the song while she sings it, all commentary, emotional side-lighting, illustration of detail – and all by way of a subtle vocabulary which is virtuosic in its eloquence." —Stephen Pedersen, Chronicle Herald (more...)
"For those who are looking for truly different and legitimately innovative expositions of familiar music, this album is for you." —Dave Nathan, All About Jazz (more...)
**** "...a solid addition to any collection." —Tim Perlich, NOW Magazine (more...)
"I would urge true jazz fans to seek out the Hammett-Vaughan disc because it still has a whiff of spontaneity and surprise." Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal (more...)
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · vocals
Chris Gestrin · piano
Jim Pinchin · saxophone
André Lachance · bass
Tom Foster · drums
compilation of various artists
2004 · Songlines SGL SA4202-2
'I'd buy the album for Kate Hammett-Vaughan's smoldering take on the title track alone. To be fair, "Poor Boy" does feature some piano on Drake's original Bryter Later rendition, and with swooning saxophone it was always one of his jazziest tunes. But Hammett-Vaughan's performance, aided and abetted by pianist Chris Gestrin, guitarist Ron Samworth and bassist Simon Fisk, makes a compelling argument for "Poor Boy" as a should-be jazz standard. Hammett-Vaughan's throaty alto evokes clouds of cigarette smoke and martini shakers. If jazz clubs everywhere start tackling this number, I'll be a very happy camper.' —Mark Hogan (more...)
buy CD: Amazon, CD Universe, iTunes
Kate Hammett-Vaughan appears with:
Chris Gestrin · piano
Ron Samworth · electric guitar
Simon Fisk · double bass
Garbo's Hat
1993 · Word Of Mouth
This album is available for free download! You can download the individual tracks or get a zip archive of the whole album (62 MB).
encoding: 190 VBR MP3
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Paul Blaney · bass
Graham Ord · saxophone, flute
Garbo's Hat
1990 · KateHV
This album is available for free download! You can download the individual tracks or get a zip archive of the whole album (50 MB).
encoding: 190 VBR MP3
Kate Hammett-Vaughan · voice
Paul Blaney · bass
Graham Ord · saxophone, flute
George Lewis & The NOW Orchestra
2001 · Spool SPL113
buy CD: CD Baby
The NOW Orchestra
1999 · Spool SPL107
buy CD: CD Baby