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.