Kate Chaston

Montréal-born, NYC-based singer/songwriter, Kate Chaston deftly engages audiences with earth-toned story-songs, lush tapestries interwoven with shades of jazz, pop, folk, and r&b, and a silky thread of funny patter. With an expressive musicality and vocal dexterity, Kate moves from warm lows to clear highs and back again, honoring her strongest influences - Joni, Aretha, Ella, and Rickie - while staying true to her own soulful, lyrical, and open sound. Kate performs in venues across the city, among them Rockwood Music Hall, the Metropolitan Room, the Cell, Pangea, and the Bitter End, where she most recently debuted her new release, "I Don't Lose No Sleep," found on all streaming services.

"Kate Chaston's voice and writing are filled with a very special, sensual honesty."

- Charles A. Martinez (Steely Dan, Donald Fagen)

"Kate Chaston’s music resides in a place where New York City cabaret meets Laurel Canyon, a place you will want to visit to hear her stories and feel all the qualities of her unique voice and commanding range. "
- Scott Sharrard (Little Feat, Gregg Allman Band)

"Not too long ago, I discovered the music of NYC vocalist Kate Chaston. Immediately, I was struck by her warm vocal tone within the recordings. Whether it be through her own compositions or covers of works from composers like Henry Mancini, Kate Chaston is a natural storyteller. She is able to use her musical gifts to convey emotion and depth through her songs. That's a rarity in this business! As a radio host, I'm always looking for those artists with their own voice - being confident in themselves and not trying to be someone else..the voice and artistry of Kate Chaston will be a true blessing to many in the years to come."
- Jay Daniels, Simply Timeless Radio

The Elements

Nicky Barbato

Nicky Barbato is a guitarist, bandleader, composer, and educator based in New York, NY. His latest album, the Nicky Barbato Project's Every Day is a Bad Hair Day (produced by Jon Irabagon) was recognized by The New York City Jazz Record as a "Best Debut of 2019" alongside releases from Larry Grenadier and Nick Dunston. The album was called “eclectic...hard driving NYC style guitar noir” and a “modern day essential for adventurous guitar fans” by Roots Music Report. The Vinyl Anachronist wrote "Nicky's vision cuts through surf rock, jazz,

'70s prog rock, funk and rockabilly--and that's just in the first song and a half." Sea of Tranquity described Barbato's guitar playing as "really quite amazing."

As an active working musician in the New York City area, Barbato has performed with Jon Irabagon, Omar Hakim, Vinnie Sperrazza, Richie Morales, Peter Brendler, Bill O’Connell, Rusty Holloway, Arthur Lipner, Matt Clohesy, Jerad Lippi, Josh Dion, Shawn Pelton, Paul Shaffer, Andy Hess, Rebecca Haviland, Charlie Lagond, and more. www.nickybarbato.com

Paul Gill

Bassist Paul Gill is a veteran of the New York jazz scene and is recognized for his buoyant, swinging bass lines and virtuosic arco solos. When Gill arrived in New York in the mid 1990s he was described by Jazz Times magazine as “surely one of the brightest of the up-and-coming bassists.” He has appeared on over 70 recordings.

Immediately upon moving to New York, Gill began working with the legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks. In 1999 he left Hendricks to embark on a one year world tour with pianist-vocalist Diana Krall. Other tours include: the Toshiko Skikyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Elvis Costello, and Pat Martino. He has performed in every major jazz club in New York City and has performed or recorded with Hank Jones, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Donaldson, Bill Charlanne, Jimmy Cobb, Al Foster, The Vanguard Orchestra, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, Lew Tabackin, Jim Snidero, Steve Wilson, Eddie Henderson, Kurt Ellington, Kenny Rankin, John Pizzarelli, and Hillary Kole.

Joe Strasser

Joe Strasser was born August 21st, 1971 in Connecticut. He moved to NYC in 1990 to attend The New School and has since played with many jazz artists, including: George Coleman, Harold Mabern, Etta Jones, Cecil Payne, Jane Monheit, Hillary Kole, Peter Bernstein, Kyle Eastwood and others. Joe also co- led The Hotpants, a funk band he founded with Roots member Ian Hendrickson- Smith, for five years every week at Smoke on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He resides in Brooklyn.