Jazz Outreach Initiative is honored to welcome acclaimed vocalist, Jonathan Karrant, to its Advisory Board! Jonathan has supported JOI for nearly 2 years including invitations for the Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra to perform at his Sunday Funday performance at Notoriety, including a featured LVYJO performance at his Sunday Funday concert on Sept 11, 2022 (TICKETS).
The JOI Advisory Board consists of people we regularly solicit for advice and assistance. Rather than an honorary position, the advisors actually avail themselves of their wisdom, talent, and time. Fellow advisors include Wynton Marsalis, Vincent Gardner, Julius Tolentino, Clint Holmes, Nathan Tannenbaum, and Robert & Shirley Kramer. To maintain integrity in our Advisory Board selections, members are approved only after a minimum one year of service to JOI. We're extremely proud to add Jonathan Karrant to this esteemed list and look forward to many more years of his guidance and support.
ABOUT JONATHAN KARRANT
“Jonathan Karrant is one hip jazz vocalist, born to sing and swing with style.” Jazz Corner Jonathan was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and raised in a home filled with music and theatrics. His Mother is an artist and for several years owned a ballet school. While his Father is a business man and hobby farmer. Growing up Jonathan studied music and performed in several local variety shows, plays, commercials and was guest vocalist with a big band. He studied performance in New York City at the William Esper Performing Arts Academy, and vocal technique with Seth Riggs in Los Angeles. He also studied privately under the direction of Marilyn Maye and Kurt Eling.
His album, “On and On” hit #4 on the Jazz charts and was released on January 8th, 2013. It features such songs as “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”, and “Doodlin” as well as the title track, and was produced by Tyler Monks, with pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Rob Thorsen, guitarist Mark Shapiro, and drummer Duncan Moore. “A voice, romantic without being cloying, warm but not forced, Jonathan carries songs with an emotional weight that reaches your soul. At the same time he can swing with the kind of jazz suave that was patented by Mel Torme.” All About Jazz
Jonathan has received several honors including; the New York City Jazz Cabaret Honors, “Best Singer” for the Bravo California Awards and was named one of the top 12 rising jazz vocalists by Downbeat. In his popular single, “Lady in Red” (written by Chris De Burgh) released on May 11th, 2015, Jonathan truly shines. Backed by pianist Mikan Zlatkovich, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Duncan Moore, Karrant sets himself apart from other contemporaries on this single. Ultimately, he displays a brilliance through phrasing and languid passages that linger. NYC After Dark
Jonathan’s album Live was recorded in Las Vegas at one of the top 10 performing art centers in the world; The Smith Center. The record was released on October 16th 2018 and reached # 2 on the iTunes Jazz Charts. Recorded on the album are some of Jonathan signature songs including, Teach Me Tonight. The album features saxophonist Charles McNeal, pianist Jason Corpuz, bassist David Ostrem, and drummer Paul Ringenbach.
In 2020, Jonathan released the first vocal jazz recording of Mariah Carey‘s iconic pop holiday song All I Want For Christmas Is You. The single was greeted with high regard and featured Charles McNeal, James Whiting, Patrick Hogan, Nick Schmitt and Jeremy Klewicki on the recording. It was mastered by award-winning musical engineer Josh Connolly.
Jonathan has worked and collaborated with Grammy award winner singer Diane Schuur, Grammy nominated singer Jane Monheit, Jazz at Lincoln Center trumpeter Kenney Rampton and Thelonius Monk award winning pianist Joshua White.