About Fay Victor

“This New York-based vocalist actually stretches the definition of jazz vocals with Betty Carter, Hendrix and Sun Ra’s song-based cosmic poetry all in the mix,” writes Jazzwise reviewer Selwyn Harris. Critics have called her “a musician and composer who is rewriting the rules of vocal jazz” (Andrew Zender, PopMatters.com) and “a truly creative singer with the chops to accomplish whatever she wants, but the good taste to ensure that substance always trumps style” (John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com).

“Vocalist Fay Victor will amaze you,” adds the The Jazz Session’s Jason Crane. “Her voice is strong and expressive, and her musical conception is unlike anything I’ve heard recently. Or maybe ever. From free improv to the blues to alt-rock and back again, The FreeSong Suite is easily one of my top 10 records of 2009.”

A New York native who spent her childhood summers in Trinidad, and seven years of her adult life as a member of the renowned Dutch jazz scene, Ms. Victor has been one of the city’s most active vocalists since her return in late 2003. Since then she has collaborated with a wide variety of bandleaders, instrumentalists and fellow vocalists, including current projects with Ernst Glerum, Darius Jones, Misha Mengelberg, Dom Minasi, Roswell Rudd, Tyshawn Sorey, Tomas Ulrich and Wolter Wierbos. In addition her primary group, The Fay Victor Ensemble, she also leads Fay Victor’s Jazz Vault and co-leads The ExPosed Blues Duo with guitarist Anders Nilsson.

Featured Discography

The Fay Victor Ensemble, The FreeSong Suite (Greene Avenue Music, 2009)

Joe’s Car

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Gone Fishing

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.