BIOGRAPHY
“Kalya has an uncanny ability to be completely authentic in the rich tradition of Jazz while sounding exactly like herself."
– TED QUINLAN, Juno nominated Canadian Guitarist
Kalya Ramu, Canadian jazz vocalist, composer, educator, and visual artist, has carved a distinctive presence within Toronto's vibrant jazz community. Known for her warm, dynamic voice, she draws inspiration from vocalists of the 1940-60s including Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Carmen McRae. From age 12 Kalya found herself immersed in the world of jazz, frequenting jam sessions and touring with community big bands. Her interest in music and performance led her to graduate with honors from the Contemporary Music Degree program at the esteemed Humber College in Toronto.
In 2019, Kalya released her debut album, Living in a Dream, generously supported by FACTOR. Shortly after this release, the original title track was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show "Frankie Drake Mysteries." Her second album, Duo (2021), a close collaboration with pianist and composer Ewen Farncombe, is a five-track album of all-original material that highlights their seasoned artistic synergy. Kalya's most recent release Trio (2024) earned widespread acclaim, with Midwest Book Review calling it “masterfully performed and recorded, immersive, and beautiful… highly recommended for vocal jazz connoisseurs.”
Kalya performs throughout the GTA with various bands including The Bettys (joined in 2013) and her own group The Nightbird Band. She has shared the stage with several heavy-weight jazz musicians including Barry Harris, Reg Schwager, Doc Severinsen, Brian Barlow, Ross MacIntyre, Ted Quinlan, George Koller, and NYC trumpet player and vocalist Benny Benack III. Kalya has been featured in Jazz festivals such as the TD Jazz, PEC Jazz Festival, Kensington Jazz, Jazz Sudbury, and the Brantford Jazz Festival and has graced the iconic stages of The Jazz Bistro (Toronto), The Django (NYC), Ronnie Scotts (London), and Shablul Jazz Club (Tel Aviv).
Beyond music, Kalya Ramu is a talented visual artist, specializing in watercolor portraiture. Her illustrations have been published inside and on the covers of Canopy Magazine and she has created illustrations for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As both a performer and visual artist, Kalya Ramu continues to captivate audiences with her soulful melodies and striking imagery, leaving a mark on the cultural landscape of Toronto and beyond.
Photo by Calm Elliott-Armstrong.
– TED QUINLAN, Juno nominated Canadian Guitarist
Kalya Ramu, Canadian jazz vocalist, composer, educator, and visual artist, has carved a distinctive presence within Toronto's vibrant jazz community. Known for her warm, dynamic voice, she draws inspiration from vocalists of the 1940-60s including Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Carmen McRae. From age 12 Kalya found herself immersed in the world of jazz, frequenting jam sessions and touring with community big bands. Her interest in music and performance led her to graduate with honors from the Contemporary Music Degree program at the esteemed Humber College in Toronto.
In 2019, Kalya released her debut album, Living in a Dream, generously supported by FACTOR. Shortly after this release, the original title track was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show "Frankie Drake Mysteries." Her second album, Duo (2021), a close collaboration with pianist and composer Ewen Farncombe, is a five-track album of all-original material that highlights their seasoned artistic synergy. Kalya's most recent release Trio (2024) earned widespread acclaim, with Midwest Book Review calling it “masterfully performed and recorded, immersive, and beautiful… highly recommended for vocal jazz connoisseurs.”
Kalya performs throughout the GTA with various bands including The Bettys (joined in 2013) and her own group The Nightbird Band. She has shared the stage with several heavy-weight jazz musicians including Barry Harris, Reg Schwager, Doc Severinsen, Brian Barlow, Ross MacIntyre, Ted Quinlan, George Koller, and NYC trumpet player and vocalist Benny Benack III. Kalya has been featured in Jazz festivals such as the TD Jazz, PEC Jazz Festival, Kensington Jazz, Jazz Sudbury, and the Brantford Jazz Festival and has graced the iconic stages of The Jazz Bistro (Toronto), The Django (NYC), Ronnie Scotts (London), and Shablul Jazz Club (Tel Aviv).
Beyond music, Kalya Ramu is a talented visual artist, specializing in watercolor portraiture. Her illustrations have been published inside and on the covers of Canopy Magazine and she has created illustrations for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As both a performer and visual artist, Kalya Ramu continues to captivate audiences with her soulful melodies and striking imagery, leaving a mark on the cultural landscape of Toronto and beyond.
Photo by Calm Elliott-Armstrong.