BIOGRAPHY
Canadian Israeli vocalist, band-leader, educator and visual artist, Kalya Ramu, is making a name for herself in Toronto’s Trad Jazz scene. As a performer, Ramu has a passion for storytelling and reinventing old Jazz music. She began her musical journey at the age of 12, frequenting Jazz jams and performing with community big bands, including the Toronto All Star Big Band. At 22 she graduated from the Humber College Bachelor of Music Degree Program and continued building her career as a performer. She has shared the stage with several well known musicians in the Toronto scene including Barry Harris, Ted Quinlan, Jackie Richardson, John Sheard, Ross MacIntyre, and Reg Schwager.
In 2019 Ramu released her debut full-length album, Living in a Dream (2019), from which the title track (an original song) was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show Frankie Drake Mysteries. Ramu’s latest work, Duo (2021), is a five-track album of all original material performed, intimately, by piano and voice. The album was cowritten with and features pianist Ewen Farncombe.
As a visual artist, Ramu focuses on watercolour portraiture. She is currently working as an illustrator for smART Magazine (by Lighthouse Immersive) and was recently published in their third print issue! She has designed album art for Canadian musicians Marshal Herridge, Chris Platt, Tayua, Claire Coupland, Shealagh Rose, and Trevor Peverley.
In 2019 Ramu released her debut full-length album, Living in a Dream (2019), from which the title track (an original song) was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show Frankie Drake Mysteries. Ramu’s latest work, Duo (2021), is a five-track album of all original material performed, intimately, by piano and voice. The album was cowritten with and features pianist Ewen Farncombe.
As a visual artist, Ramu focuses on watercolour portraiture. She is currently working as an illustrator for smART Magazine (by Lighthouse Immersive) and was recently published in their third print issue! She has designed album art for Canadian musicians Marshal Herridge, Chris Platt, Tayua, Claire Coupland, Shealagh Rose, and Trevor Peverley.