Camille Thurman | |
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Background information | |
Born | Queens, New York | December 22, 1986
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute, vocals |
Years active | 2008–present |
Labels | Chesky |
Website | camillethurmanmusic |
Camille Thurman (born December 22, 1986) is an American jazz saxophonist, singer, composer, and member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.[1][2] Her first two albums, released by Chesky Records in 2018 and 2017, peaked at #3 and #25 respectively on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart.[3] She has performed at the Kennedy Center, and was a runner up for the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.[2][4]
Thurman took up music at a young age, as she grew up in the St. Albans section of Queens, New York, practicing vocals, piano, and flute before attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts.[5][6][2] She first picked up the tenor saxophone, the instrument she is best known for playing, at the age of 15.[7] She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in geological & environmental science from Binghamton University.[2][5]
Thurman moved back to New York City following her graduation, and played with a wide array of jazz musicians, particularly crediting saxophone player Tia Fuller and vocalist/bassist Mimi Jones with helping her in those early years.[5] Thurman went on to place as a finalist in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, garnering much attention, and leading to her first record deal.[5]
Later in 2013, Thurman released her first album, Origins, on Jones' label, Hot Tone Music.[2] She followed up with her second album on Hot Tone, Spirit Child, in 2014.[2]
Over December 2014 to January 2015 Thurman appeared alongside Charenee Wade, Cyrille Aimée, Allan Harris and an eight-piece band including bassist Mimi Jones in Alex Webb (musician)'s jazz theatre show Cafe Society Swing, at New York's 59E59 Theaters, which received a Critic's Pick from the New York Times.[8]
Thurman later signed to Chesky Records, and released her third album, Inside the Moment, on May 19, 2017, which debuted at #25 on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart.[2][3]
Thurman released her fourth album, Waiting for the Sunrise, through Chesky Records on August 24, 2018, and the album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums Chart.[2][3]