Beat Kaestli
Encyclopedia
Beat Kaestli is a Swiss vocalist, songwriter
, arranger
and producer
residing in New York City
. Upon receiving a scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music
in 1993, he decided to move from his native home of Switzerland to New York and make it his permanent home. Following several years of supporting himself as a session singer, backing such dance artists as Barbara Tucker
and Inaya Day
and working alongside Linda Hopkins
on the world tour of the Harlem Gospel Show, Kaestli made his recording debut in 2002 with Reasons a collection of R&B-infused, pop-jazz originals that earned him a review in Billboard Magazine and comparisons to such disparate headliners as George Michael
and Maxwell
.
, Stefon Harris
and Jason Moran
, Beat immersed himself in Manhattan’s fiercely competitive music scene, emerging as a seasoned performer. He now appears at renowned clubs such as Birdland
, The Jazz Standard, B.B. King's, 55 Bar
and The Blue Note and in 2005, Beat was the chosen vocalist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra
. In 2006, Beat's second album, Happy, Sad, and Satisfied was released. Happy, Sad, and Satisfied garnered very positive reviews, even being named one of the top 25 CDs of 2006 by Indie-Music Magazine Kaestli returned to the classroom in 2007 when the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation scholarship from the Society of Singers provided him the opportunity to earn a Masters degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music
.
On 2009's multilingual Far from Home, Kaestli paid tribute to a spectrum of European songwriters, such as Michel Legrand
and Kurt Weill
and included original collaborations with contemporary European composers, like Misha Piatigorsky and Tino Derado. Far from Home also garnered many positive reviews, prompting Jon Hendricks
to praise Kaestli as “soulful [and] sensitive.”
Beat Kaestli was interviewed by Linus Wyrsch on "The Jazz Hole" for breakthruradio.com in November 2009 - Beat Kaestli Interview by breakthruradio.com
to release his latest album, Invitation. The album is his return to the American songbook. Supported by bassist Jay Leonhart
, drummer Billy Drummond
, saxophonist Joel Frahm, trumpeter Kenny Rampton and guitarist Paul Meyers
,
Invitation is Kaestli's best received album so far. It made it onto the Roots Music Chart, debuting at no. 15, and it's keeping a strong position in the Top 50 Jazz Albums category.Invitation was recorded at historic St. Peter's Church
in Chelsea, New York City. Instead of close miking all the instruments, Chesky Records
used one microphone to hear the full, 360-degree acoustic space of St. Peter's Church. This recording has allowed much praise for the sound quality, being called "outstanding" and "significantly enhancing the album’s stark beauty" by JazzTimes
.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
residing in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Upon receiving a scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
in 1993, he decided to move from his native home of Switzerland to New York and make it his permanent home. Following several years of supporting himself as a session singer, backing such dance artists as Barbara Tucker
Barbara Tucker
Barbara Tucker , is an African American house, R&B and soul singer, songwriter and choreographer. Her impact on the mainstream music scene has been felt more in Europe, than in her home country....
and Inaya Day
Inaya Day
Inaya Day is an American singer, best known for her vocal work on house music tracks such as "Horny" by Mousse T, and her cover version of "Nasty Girl" by Prince protege Vanity 6.-Early career:...
and working alongside Linda Hopkins
Linda Hopkins
Linda Hopkins is an African American actress and blues and gospel singer. She has recorded classic, traditional, and urban blues, and performed R&B and soul, jazz, and show tunes, all with distinction and style since the 1950s....
on the world tour of the Harlem Gospel Show, Kaestli made his recording debut in 2002 with Reasons a collection of R&B-infused, pop-jazz originals that earned him a review in Billboard Magazine and comparisons to such disparate headliners as George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
and Maxwell
Maxwell (musician)
Maxwell , is an American R&B, funk and neo soul musician. He played an important role in the development of the soul sub-genre, neo-soul.-Early life:...
.
Since 2002
While honing his craft alongside young Jazz note worthy’s like Jane MonheitJane Monheit
Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist for Concord Records. She has collaborated with artists such as Michael Bublé, Ivan Lins, Terence Blanchard and Tom Harrell, and has received Grammy nominations for two of her recordings.-Early life:Jane Monheit was raised in Oakdale, New York...
, Stefon Harris
Stefon Harris
Stefon Harris is an American jazz vibraphonist. In 1999, the Los Angeles Times called him "one of the most important young artists in jazz" who is "at the forefront of new New York music" and "much in demand as a star sideman"...
and Jason Moran
Jason Moran
Jason Matthew Patrick Moran was an Australian criminal from Melbourne, Victoria, and one of the leaders of the Moran crime family, notable for its involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. He sported a 12 cm scar on the side of his face.-Early life:Moran was the son of Lewis Moran and...
, Beat immersed himself in Manhattan’s fiercely competitive music scene, emerging as a seasoned performer. He now appears at renowned clubs such as Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
, The Jazz Standard, B.B. King's, 55 Bar
55 Bar
55 Bar is a jazz club in New York City located at 55 Christopher Street.-History:The 55 Bar has been around since 1919. It was originally a speakeasy during Prohibition....
and The Blue Note and in 2005, Beat was the chosen vocalist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Glenn Miller Orchestra was originally formed in 1938 by Glenn Miller. It was arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, while three other saxophones played the harmony...
. In 2006, Beat's second album, Happy, Sad, and Satisfied was released. Happy, Sad, and Satisfied garnered very positive reviews, even being named one of the top 25 CDs of 2006 by Indie-Music Magazine Kaestli returned to the classroom in 2007 when the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation scholarship from the Society of Singers provided him the opportunity to earn a Masters degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music
Aaron Copland School of Music
The Aaron Copland School of Music is one of the oldest and most distinguished departments at Queens College, founded when the College opened in 1937....
.
On 2009's multilingual Far from Home, Kaestli paid tribute to a spectrum of European songwriters, such as Michel Legrand
Michel Legrand
Michel Jean Legrand is a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist...
and Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
and included original collaborations with contemporary European composers, like Misha Piatigorsky and Tino Derado. Far from Home also garnered many positive reviews, prompting Jon Hendricks
Jon Hendricks
Jon Hendricks is an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is considered one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists...
to praise Kaestli as “soulful [and] sensitive.”
Beat Kaestli was interviewed by Linus Wyrsch on "The Jazz Hole" for breakthruradio.com in November 2009 - Beat Kaestli Interview by breakthruradio.com
Current
In 2010, Beat Keastli moved to the major jazz label Chesky RecordsChesky Records
Chesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his...
to release his latest album, Invitation. The album is his return to the American songbook. Supported by bassist Jay Leonhart
Jay Leonhart
Jay Leonhart is a noted bassist and songwriter working in jazz and popular music. He has performed with diverse artists including Judy Garland, Carly Simon, Bucky Pizzarelli, Sting, and Frank Sinatra...
, drummer Billy Drummond
Billy Drummond
Willis Robert "Billy" Drummond, Jr. is an American jazz drummer.Drummond learned jazz from an early age from his father, who was a drummer and a jazz enthusiast and whose record collection included many recordings of Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones, among others...
, saxophonist Joel Frahm, trumpeter Kenny Rampton and guitarist Paul Meyers
Paul Meyers
Paul Duncan Meyers was a professional football player. He played in the National Football League with the Rochester Jeffersons, New York Brickley Giants and the Racine Legion. Please note that Brickley's New York Giants are not related to the modern-day New York Giants. Prior to joining the NFL,...
,
Invitation is Kaestli's best received album so far. It made it onto the Roots Music Chart, debuting at no. 15, and it's keeping a strong position in the Top 50 Jazz Albums category.Invitation was recorded at historic St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church, or variations on that name including Old St. Peter's Church, may refer to:-Bermuda:* St. Peter's Church, St. George's, the oldest-surviving Anglican church outside the British Isles, and the oldest surviving Protestant church in the New World.-Ireland:* St. Peter's Church,...
in Chelsea, New York City. Instead of close miking all the instruments, Chesky Records
Chesky Records
Chesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his...
used one microphone to hear the full, 360-degree acoustic space of St. Peter's Church. This recording has allowed much praise for the sound quality, being called "outstanding" and "significantly enhancing the album’s stark beauty" by JazzTimes
JazzTimes
JazzTimes is a magazine that dates back to Radio Free Jazz, a publication founded in 1970 by Ira Sabin when he was operating a record store in Washington, DC. It was originally a newsletter designed to update shoppers on the latest jazz releases and provide jazz radio programmers with a means of...
.
Discography
- 2002 – Reasons
- 2005 - Happy, Sad, and Satisfied
- 2009 - Far from Home
- 2010 - Invitation