Kristen Cornwell
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Kristen Cornwell
About Me
"The musician's singer", Kristen Cornwell enjoyed status as one of Australia's most respected jazz singers for over 10 years before moving to Belgium in 2004. A graduate in Jazz of the National Institute of the Arts at The Australian National University she was a MO Award nominee in the Jazz Vocalist Section for four years running and was a regular guest at Sydney's jazz clubs and festivals nationally.
Based in Sydney from 1990 until 2004, Kristen's credits include working with notable musicians including Don Burrows, Julian Lee, George Golla, Scott Hamilton, Carl Orr, Sandy Evans and The Australian Art Orchestra. She toured China twice with Don Burrows and along with two CD’s under her own name has featured on CD's by Guitarist's Jeremy Sawkins ('Toys'), Carl Orr ('Mean It' and 'Blue Thing') and Steve Hunter (‘Condition Human’). Her television appearances in Australia include "Hey, Hey its Saturday" several appearances on "The Midday Show" and a feature spot with her quintet on ABC television's 'Pulse' jazz series.
Kristen’s debut CD with her outstanding quintet (Sea Journey) was released to critical acclaim in Australia in 2000. As John Clare from the Sydney Morning Herald declared, this is a "high water mark". This was followed by an equally well-received second CD (Spiral) in 2004.
Since moving from Australia to Europe in 2004 Kristen Cornwell has established herself in the jazz scene not only in Belgium but further afield with performances in Benelux, Germany, Ireland and South Africa. Together with Michelino Bisceglia and Jean Blaute she performed in the successful concert program ‘History of Jazz’ which toured in cultural centers throughout Flanders. The last few years she has focussed on her trio.
Kristen has released 3 CD’s in Europe - Distant Skies (2008), Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love (2012) and Spoonful (2018).
Kristen is passing on her knowledge and expertise to young singers through her teaching practice. She is one singer who can both "do it" and "teach it". For more information over Kristen’s teaching practice please click here.
Latest News
Kristen Cornwell Trio
Songs Of Love and Resistance
Kristen performs classics such as Joni Mitchell and Buffalo Springfield from the '60s and '70s, as well as more recent pop songs. All in her own unique style. Kristen not only possesses a beautiful voice and technical perfection, but performs her songs with warmth, empathy and feeling.
She is accompanied by guitarist Patrick Deltenre, who has played for years alongside Maurane, Axelle Red and Viktor Lazlo, among others; and by bassist Christophe Devisscher, a much sought-after and versatile jazz and session musician with more than 30 albums to his name in jazz, pop and folk.
Together Kristen, Patrick (guitar) and Christophe (double bass) create a warm, original sound full of love. An atmospheric evening with a touch of 'resistance'.
Listen...
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For What It's Worth
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Kristen Cornwell Trio featuring Patrick Deltenre & Christophe Devisscher. Film - Gil Plaquet
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
From Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love.
Blast from the past from Down Under.
One Man Woman on Hey Hey It's Saturday.
Upcoming Concerts
18 October
Kristen Cornwell Trio
CD releases
Spoonful - Back to the Blues
Recorded in RecordOffice, Sint-Niklaas, B, 2017
Released through Cornfish
Band
Kristen Cornwell - Vocals
Christophe Devisscher - Bass
Patrick Deltenre - Guitar
order your physical copy here
Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love
Recorded in Crescendo Studio’s, Genk, B, 2010
Released through Prova Records
Band
Michel Biseglia - piano
Kristen Cornwell - vocals
Patrick Deltenre - guitars
Werner Lauscher - bass
Carlo Nardoza - trumpet & flugel
Mimi Verderame - drums
Prova String Orchestra
order your physical copy here
Spiral
Recorded in Q Studio’s, Sydney, AUS, 2004
Released independently
Band
Brendan Clarke - bass
Kristen Cornwell - vocals
Sandy Evans - tenor &soprano sax
Fabian Hevia - drums & percussion
Jeremy Sawkins - guitars
order your physical copy here
Amaranthine
Recorded in Motor Music, Mechelen, B, 2015
Released through Lupophonic
Band - Let the Music Speak
Adam Woolf - direction/trombone
Kristen Cornwell - vocals
Frank Vaganée - saxophone
Jon Birdsong - trumpet/ cornetto
Lambert Colson - cornettos
Jeff Miller - tuba/serpent/ didgeridoo/electronics
Anthony Romaniuk - piano
Christophe Devisscher - bass
Mattijs Vanderleen - drums / marimba / perc. / electronics
Distant Skies
Recorded in Fattoria Musica, Osnabrück, D, 2007
Released through Jules Jazz
Band
Kristen Cornwell - vocals
Christophe Devisscher - bass
Dennis Frehse - drums & percussion
Frederik Leroux - guitars
Pascal Schumacher - vibraphone & glochenspiel
order your physical copy here
Sea Journey
Recorded in ABC Studio’s, Sydney, AUS, 1999
Released independently
Band
Adam Armstrong - bass
Kristen Cornwell - vocals
Sandy Evans - tenor &soprano sax
Fabian Hevia - drums & percussion
Jeremy Sawkins - guitars
order your physical copy here
Teaching
I feel very lucky to have grown up in a family with two generations of amateur and semi-professional musicians before me. Music was always a very important part of life in our household. My early musical education was in classical music with violin lessons from the age of around 8. My weeks were filled with choir youth orchestra rehearsals. At home there were also the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Oscar Peterson (to name a few) regularly playing and I guess this was my first taste of jazz. I also dabbled in music theatre performing the role of Maria in West Side Story in my final year of high school.
Since I began to sing and study jazz seriously I have always felt that a reliable instrument, and therefore good technique, was essential to true creative freedom. My approach to teaching singing is very much based on developing an ‘easy’ vocal technique with minimum vocal effort. Through physical awareness, a deep connection with the body and development of the ear, the art is learning to place energy in the ‘useful’ areas of the body - facilitating and supporting the larynx during singing. All of this is naturally in service of creativity and expression – ultimately what music is all about!
My study with Sally Ireland (speech pathologist) and my experiences with Estill Voice Training, along with my insatiable ‘need to read’ have helped develop my knowledge of how the voice works and given me the language to explain this to others. My own performance experience gives me a deep understanding of how all this relates to the podium.
The voice as an instrument infinitely fascinating and how it relates to us as expressive, emotional individuals is also intriguing.
Control of your instrument is essential in all styles of singing and particularly when it comes to jazz. Spontaneity of phrasing and improvisation requires a reliable and flexible instrument that lets you go where you want to musically.
Teaching and singing are for me intimately linked: one informs the other and both are equally, though differently, satisfying.
I have a small number of private students. For enquiries please mail contact@kristencornwell.com
Current teaching positions.
2005 - Present: Stedelijk Conservatorium of Muziek, Mechelen www.conservatoriummechelen.be
vocal teacher/vocal ensemble/ combo
Previous Teaching Positions
2013 - 2016: Academie Grimbergen
vocal teacher/vocal ensemble
2007 – 2014: Conservatorium of Gent (B)
vocal teacher/improvisation lessons
2005 – 2008: Stedelijk Academie Muziek, Woord en Dans, Sint-Niklaas (B)
vocal teacher/vocal ensemble
2003 – 2004: Australian National University (Canberra, AUS)
Vocal Teacher/vocal ensemble/ensemble
2001 – 2002: University of NSW (Sydney, AUS)
Vocal Teacher
2001 – 2002: St. Catherine’s Waverly (Sydney, AUS)
Vocal teacher/vocal ensemble
1993 – 2004: SCECGS Redlands (Sydney, AUS)
Vocal teacher
1995: Austalian Institute of Music (Sydney, AUS)
Vocal teacher
Academic Qualifications & other study.
2014: Leraren Opleiding, LUCA School Of Arts, Leuven (B)
2007: Master of Jazz, Royal Conservatory of Music, Brussels (B)
1989: Bachelor of Jazz Studies, Australian National University – Institute of Arts. (Canberra, AUS)
Other study.
2013 Level 1 and 2 – Estill Voice Training
2008 Voice Workshop with Sheila Jordan (USA)
2004 Voice Workshop with Mark Murphy (USA)
1998 Music Theatre & Cabaret Performer Training Seminar with Robert Edwin (USA), Toni Lamond, Tommy Tycho, Max Lambert etc.
1996 Voice Workshop with Jo Estill - EVTS (USA)
1989 Voice lessons with Kerrie Biddell (Australia’s most respected jazz singer)
1984 – 1987 Voice lessons with Helen Swan – BA Mus.Dip.Ed
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