Cleo Steinberger
Young singer CLEO is one of the most promising jazz-vocalists in Germany - her voice is powerful, full-bodied, bluesy and jazzy at the same time. In addition to numerous concerts in Germany, she has performed in renowned clubs in New Orleans and at several festivals in Switzerland (JazzAscona, Davos Sounds). In 2017, Cleo released her debut album "Let Them Talk" that was rewarded with the German Record Critics Award. Her second album „Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass“, a collaboration with her long-standing duo partner and award winning jazz guitarist David Grabowski will be released this fall on the 1st of September.
Biography
Singer, musician, songwriter
This young singer is one of the most exciting newcomers on the scene today, as her music breathes the depth and emotional intensity of the blues. CLEO's voice leaves a feeling like velvet and chili and she knows how to handle it in a disarmingly natural way with virtuosity.
CLEO discovered her great passion for singing at the age of 8 in a gospel choir. At the age of 11 she gave her first concerts as the lead singer of her own family blues band. A few years later, CLEO moved with her family to New Orleans for six months. There she immersed herself in traditional New Orleans jazz, also absorbing the funk and soul influences of the city on the Mississippi and learning from musicians such as Donald Harrison Jr, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and Derek Douget. In addition to concerts in Germany and Switzerland, she performed in New Orleans at various clubs, at the French Quarter Festival, and as the first German singer at the opening gala of the Jazz and Heritage Festival. In 2017, CLEO released her debut album Let Them Talk feat. Jan Luley Trio, which was awarded the Quarterly Prize of the German Record Critics the same year. A second album of her current concert program, "Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass," a collaboration with her longtime guitarist David Grabowski, was released 10/30/20 on UnitRecords (more info: here)
Swing, Blues, New Orleans Jazz, Pop
CLEO's music reflects all the influences of American music history: a rousing mixture of swing/modern jazz, blues, soul and pop inspired by American jazz legends like Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald as well as contemporary artists like Kurt Elling or Cécile McLorin Salvant. In doing so, CLEO always finds the musical way back to New Orleans, where it all began: the jazz and also her career.
Current album

Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pas
"Cleo and David, vocals and guitar, the "Great American Songbook", duo jazz, recorded live.
A fresh bow to the heroes of this type of lineup: Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. Cleo always intones to the point, with timbre, feeling and time, David accompanies brilliantly and pushes the whole forward with virtuosity, but without pushing himself to the fore. As guest the Hamburg saxophone legend Gabriel Coburger with wonderful tenor and flute sound. This is how duo works! Sit down, listen, enjoy- and please more of it!" Review Ingolf Burkhardt (NDR-BigBand)
Discography
- Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, 2020
- Let them Talk feat. Jan Luley Trio, 2017
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