Kathy Farmer's beautiful voice, expressiveness, jazz sensibility, engaging personality, and ability to connect with her audience make her a standout. Her great love of jazz was influenced by her mom's favorite radio station and Broadway show albums that filled the home with American Songbook classics.  

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Her stylistic approach has been influenced by some of the jazz greats, including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Anita O'Day, Eydie Gorme, Helen Forest. And then there are the women of pop--like Whitney Houston, Dusty Springfield, Carole King, Gladys Knight and so many more!

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Kathy wears a few singing hats, offering the performance range and scope of music to fit both audience and venue--

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• vocalist with a jazz combo or acoustic guitar tailored to the needs of the client  and the occasion

• one of three "chicks" in the Pop Chicks, performing classic tunes from classy ladies of pop history! https://www.thepopchicks.com/

• vocalist with The Bob Smith Trio and The Jim Levy Quartet, performing jazz standards as well as more contemporary tunes with a jazz influence

• vocalist with Accidental Red, a five-piece jazz ensemble  www.accidentalred.com 

 

She has performed throughout the greater Washington, DC area, including the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Mr. Henry's, Twins Jazz, the Carlyle Club, JoJo's, Glen Echo's Spanish Ballroom, Twins Jazz--and many other jazz venues, restaurants, as well as for private events.  

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Accolades!!

Kathy Farmer was putting on the Ritz last Thursday night at the Ritz Carlton hotel Georgetown, Washington DC. She shared the stage with pianist and music director Wayne Wilentz and bassist Ralph Gordon.

The feel of electricity and high energy was in the air at another installment of the Living Room Live Series by Art Soiree. Ms. Farmer reinforced the sense of high expectation with her first song entitled “The Song is You.” It’s one of my favorites and Kathy sang it in uptempo Swing with emotion at style. Jerome Kern’s composition and Hammerstein’s lyrics are perfectly blended and it was right on target for an opener. She followed with “After You’ve Gone” and a self proclaimed obscure Sinatra classic, “Please Be Kind.” I don’t think “Please Be Kind” is very obscure if I know about it. Kathy did a great job singing the Saul Chaplin composition with its unique harmonic progressions. It’s a favorite of mine. The only thing about the song that could be obscure in 2015 is Chaplin. However, he was a prolific composer for Broadway, screen and television and a three time Oscar winner. He was also born in Brooklyn NY. Lots of cool people from Brooklyn.

Ms. Farmer looked radiant in her uptown apparel. Not only is she fashion conscious she is also a connoisseur of Great American Songbook Standards. She researches all the songs for her shows with tender loving care. Her shows are assembled like a swiss watch that runs perfectly with confidence and zest. Wait. Could a voice be fashion conscious too? If so, Kathy’s voice qualifies.

The confused dancers were back and brought their friends with them. Yay!! Dancers think a singer of Great American Songbook Standards on the stage make them dance better. Yep. That’s what they tell me!

I loved Ms. Farmer’s song choices. No show of Great American Songbook Standards would be complete without Cole Porter, Arlen, Mercer, Ellington and many others. What makes Kathy’s eclectic song selections special are additions like Leon Russell’s “This Masquerade.” Another favorite of mine. A perfect song to close the first set.

Set two opened with a surprise. The YazooZazz Vocal Trio took to the stage and delivered a series of songs in three part harmony reminiscent of the Boswell and Andrews Sisters. Wow! What a treat. My favorite was the melodiously soft buy defining rendition of “Mood Indigo.” Kathy is a member of the trio along with Jeanine Greene and Robin Cunningham.

I was in awe for the balance of set two. Kathy’s song selection reminded me of looking at pictures at an art exhibit. Each one different, but linked by a familiar brush stroke or use of color and subject matter. Her expressive voice and stage presence created an experience and a special journey down the vocal road of exploration.

When Kathy thanked everyone for coming and hoped we enjoyed the show a din of applause went up in the room. I felt like I was saying goodbye to a good friend. I asked myself how could this show be over? Over? We didn’t have the guacamole and chips!

 

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