Karin Reid

Want to follow Karin online? Have a look at her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/singerofjazz/

Currently based in Dunedin, Karin Reid is noted for the hypnotising notes of her "sultry voice”, her deep vocal tones expressing the darker side of the jazz and cabaret tradition. Reid interprets a range of classics from Swing, Bebop and Cool eras and ballads from the American Songbook.

Reid has been involved in the performing arts in Dunedin and Christchurch for 24 years – as an actor, creator, theatre teacher, festival and event organiser and independent producer - and regarded more latterly as Dunedin's top jazz vocalist.

The last two years saw Karin return to her roots in the UK where she sang at various ‘jazz jams’ in the Essex area, with the occasional gig including performances on the Shetland Isles – her Northern-most gig to date - and performances with several talented musicians, including professional jazz guitarist, Alex Hearn who studied music at Brunel University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the Master of Music Degree and played with many jazz luminaries, as well as played at the Purcell Room in the Royal Festival Hall and jammed at Ronnie Scott’s.

Whilst in Dunedin, Reid performed regularly with Trevor Coleman (piano, trumpet) and Nick Cornish (saxes & flute) - two of Dunedin's finest jazz musicians with a shared passion for improvising across a variety of genres. Together they were the Reid, Coleman & Cornish Trio and presented explorations on an eclectic mix of jazz related songs. Coleman has worked extensively as a film and theatre composer as well as jazz and world music performer in Europe, USA and NZ and is now based in Seville, Spain and Cornish has been in constant demand as a multi-wind instrumentalist in classic and jazz formations and is based in Dunedin.

Reid has also played as a duo with jazz pianist Bill Martin for several years, presenting a modern take on jazz noir via novel interpretations of jazz standards and theatrical renditions of the songs of Kurt Weill. When in full swing, Reid has been supported by the rhythm section of the Bill Martin Trio and the Calder Prescott Trio, and has played with internationally renowned US bassist Nathan Berg, along with other Dunedin-based musicians.

​Karin has also performed on several occasions at the Queenstown Jazz Festival and for the Dunedin Festival of the Arts in 2014 and is looking forward to performing at the Oamaru Jazz Festival this year.