Always wanting to be a singer as far back as she can remember, Australia's Trudy Kerr began her professional career in the 1980s shortly after graduating from school. Her first gigs were in Brisbane restaurants, piano bars and pubs doing middle-of-the-road covers. She decided to pursue jazz after hearing Chaka Khan on the Echos of an Era album which Khan cut with Chick Corea and Freddie Hubbard. Kerr got her first big break after moving to London, England in the early 1990's. She appeared at jazz clubs around London while studying at the Guildhall School of Music. After hearing her sing one evening, influential London club owner Ronnie Scott invited Kerr to perform at his club, supporting Monty Alexander. This led to her first album in 1997 Sweet Surprise for the FMR label. Her second album Trudy was released in 1999. Made for Jazzizit, it's the label's first vocal release. In addition to Chaka Khan, Kerr cites Al Jarreau, Sarah Vaughan and Gladys Knight as influencing her style. This vocal style concoction is reflected in her last album where she straddles the line between adult contemporary and jazz. Kerr continues to gig in London clubs and elsewhere in Europe and also teaches. Kerr has a very pleasant voice and sufficient talent to hold out the possibility of a flourishing future as a jazz and jazz type singer. At some point though, she will have to decide which vocal style will dominate her performances, jazz or contemporary adult. ~ Dave Nathan