Karla Chisholm
The sound of her voice is full of delicious contrasts. It’s strong and strident, but soft and smooth as caramel when it drops down to the breathy low register. She pulls dead-accurate notes seemingly out of thin air, the way Ella did, but then she’ll swing breezily into soul mode, bending and smearing blue notes so naturally you think you’re hearing Aretha.
And then there’s seeing Karla Chisholm live — a whole different story. A lithe, slender girl in a cocktail dress with an adorable pixie hairdo, belting out standards and jazzed-up soul covers with such aplomb, such strength, that it almost seems unreal. Karla can channel Dinah Washington in one tune, then Mavis Staples in the next, then the breezy lightness of the Andrews Sisters in the next.
Take the cover of Bobby Hebb’s 1966 hit “Sunny,” from Karla’s debut album, Live at Domenica’s, released in 2009 as the culmination of a long-running Washington DC Saturday night gig. Backed by the sparse, virtuosic guitar of Michael Raitzyk, Karla’s voice shines with confidence, moving from delicate crooning to blues diva to bebop scat-singing totally effortlessly. Or her version of “Beginning to See the Light.” This isn’t your average Tony Bennett-style Vegas treatment of a classic swing ballad. It’s a girl bringing all the weight of her life experience, charged with the same crazy beams of infectious enthusiasm that give light to her personality, to a song that’s been worked over by every heavyweight lounge singer in history. Somehow, she makes it entirely her own.
A charming Southern Belle in both manner and spirit, Karla was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and studied vocal performance at the storied music program at the University of North Texas. After stints in Washington and Los Angeles, she now makes her home on the west side of Baltimore, not far from the old vaudeville theaters and chitlin circuit clubs where Billy Holiday cadged drinks from lovestruck hustlers and sang her soul out to the salty-aired night. Karla plays gigs all over the Baltimore-Washington area, including spots with musicians who regularly round out sessions with the likes of Prince, Justin Timberlake, Al Dimeola, Bebe Wynans and Eva Cassidy. At 18, Karla debuted at Switzerland’s famous Montreux Jazz Festival. In 2009, she shared a stage with Mary Wilson of the Supremes. She has toured in the Greek Isles and Dubai, but feels just as comfortable reinvigorating the standards in front of a hometown crowd at Baltimore’s Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival.
“Sometimes it amazes me how strong the power of love can be,” Karla sang one night recently at a lounge gig in Baltimore. She’s covering Tuck and Patti’s “Takes My Breath Away,” and the crowd clearly doesn’t know the song. But you can see them slowly turning towards the stage. Karla closes her eyes, throws her head back, and belts out the refrain. Suddenly it’s clear. It takes a woman who knows the power of love, who’s experienced it first-hand, to sing like this. It takes someone who’s equally conversant in roadhouse blues numbers and Smokey Robinson oldies to move so easily between the thrall of love and the pain of loss, all in the course of one song, the way Karla does.
So sit back and relax and just listen. Karla Chisholm has got some things she’d like to whisper in your ear. She’s also got some flirty, almost naughty things she’d like to tell you with eyes. And some heartbreaking stories she wants to tell you, in a voice that’s halfway between a conservatory-trained, honey-sweet alto and a roadhouse groan. Sit back and listen. You won’t be disappointed.
And then there’s seeing Karla Chisholm live — a whole different story. A lithe, slender girl in a cocktail dress with an adorable pixie hairdo, belting out standards and jazzed-up soul covers with such aplomb, such strength, that it almost seems unreal. Karla can channel Dinah Washington in one tune, then Mavis Staples in the next, then the breezy lightness of the Andrews Sisters in the next.
Take the cover of Bobby Hebb’s 1966 hit “Sunny,” from Karla’s debut album, Live at Domenica’s, released in 2009 as the culmination of a long-running Washington DC Saturday night gig. Backed by the sparse, virtuosic guitar of Michael Raitzyk, Karla’s voice shines with confidence, moving from delicate crooning to blues diva to bebop scat-singing totally effortlessly. Or her version of “Beginning to See the Light.” This isn’t your average Tony Bennett-style Vegas treatment of a classic swing ballad. It’s a girl bringing all the weight of her life experience, charged with the same crazy beams of infectious enthusiasm that give light to her personality, to a song that’s been worked over by every heavyweight lounge singer in history. Somehow, she makes it entirely her own.
A charming Southern Belle in both manner and spirit, Karla was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and studied vocal performance at the storied music program at the University of North Texas. After stints in Washington and Los Angeles, she now makes her home on the west side of Baltimore, not far from the old vaudeville theaters and chitlin circuit clubs where Billy Holiday cadged drinks from lovestruck hustlers and sang her soul out to the salty-aired night. Karla plays gigs all over the Baltimore-Washington area, including spots with musicians who regularly round out sessions with the likes of Prince, Justin Timberlake, Al Dimeola, Bebe Wynans and Eva Cassidy. At 18, Karla debuted at Switzerland’s famous Montreux Jazz Festival. In 2009, she shared a stage with Mary Wilson of the Supremes. She has toured in the Greek Isles and Dubai, but feels just as comfortable reinvigorating the standards in front of a hometown crowd at Baltimore’s Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival.
“Sometimes it amazes me how strong the power of love can be,” Karla sang one night recently at a lounge gig in Baltimore. She’s covering Tuck and Patti’s “Takes My Breath Away,” and the crowd clearly doesn’t know the song. But you can see them slowly turning towards the stage. Karla closes her eyes, throws her head back, and belts out the refrain. Suddenly it’s clear. It takes a woman who knows the power of love, who’s experienced it first-hand, to sing like this. It takes someone who’s equally conversant in roadhouse blues numbers and Smokey Robinson oldies to move so easily between the thrall of love and the pain of loss, all in the course of one song, the way Karla does.
So sit back and relax and just listen. Karla Chisholm has got some things she’d like to whisper in your ear. She’s also got some flirty, almost naughty things she’d like to tell you with eyes. And some heartbreaking stories she wants to tell you, in a voice that’s halfway between a conservatory-trained, honey-sweet alto and a roadhouse groan. Sit back and listen. You won’t be disappointed.
Karla Chisholm
Way You Look Tonight
Tracks of My Tears
Takes My Breath Away
Sunny
Had To Be You
Devil May Care
Day in the Life
Live at the Museum
Pennies From Heaven
Tracks of My Tears
Takes My Breath Away
Sunny
Had To Be You
Devil May Care
Day in the Life
Live at the Museum
Pennies From Heaven
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Corporate Party
From: info@entertainmentexchange Contract #: CON30708/r
Subject: Client Survey Form for Karla Chisholm
Client Survey Form
Contract Number : CON30708/r
Artist Hired : Karla Chisholm
Date Of Event : 12/06/18
Rate the Artist:
Overall Performance : Excellent
Sound Level/Volume : Good
Song Selection : Excellent
Appearance : Excellent
Personality : Excellent
Cooperativeness : Excellent
Rate the Agency:
Was the Agency cooperative? Yes
Would you hire again? Yes
May we use you as a reference? Yes
What is the date of your next event? mm/dd/yy
Comments/Suggestions : We absolutely loved Karla and her band! We received such wonderful feedback from our guests. Event the location where we hosted the event – the Ritz Carlton – was raving about Karla and wanted to know how we found her.
The only slightly negative comment I heard was from one of our employees who said he was sitting at a further back table and couldn’t hear her as well. But our guests were also talking a lot. So I am thinking for next year to see about having additional speakers on the other side of the room too.
Corporate Event
Good Morning, Denise-
Yes, everything was a huge success. Our group really enjoyed Karla and the band. Thank you for noting to reach out next yr. If we should have any events between now and then, I will be sure to reach out.
Just a side note, we are based in Colorado and host our Holiday Offsite at a different venue each year. While there are no guarantees that we will return to DC, we sure do hope to.
Have a great week!
Krystal H
[corporate holidayclient]
Law Firm, Summer Intern Party
Subject: Client Survey Form for Karla Chisholm Trio
Client Survey Form
Contract Number :
Artist Hired : Karla Chisholm Trio
Date Of Event : 07/13/2018
Rate the Artist:
Overall Performance : Excellent
Sound Level/Volume : Excellent
Song Selection : Excellent
Appearance : Excellent
Personality : Excellent
Cooperativeness : Excellent
Rate the Agency:
Was the Agency cooperative? Yes
Would you hire again? Yes
May we use you as a reference? Yes
What is the date of your next event? not sure but will definetley let you know
Comments/Suggestions : Karla was AMAZING!!!
delightful to work with, so adaptable, and really read the room. We were over the moon with her performance and I had department heads coming to me saying they would love to use her for future events.
40th Birthday Party
Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 9:35 AM, Claire Duran wrote:
Dear All,
I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for all your wonderful efforts towards Gisselle’s birthday this past Saturday. Regardless of the severe weather challenges, she still was able to have a super fun event, and I know it was only because she (and I) had a SUPERB team with all of you behind it all.
So thank you thank you thank you!
And my special gratitude to Toni and her team at The Hepburn for the hospitality.
Looking forward to working with each and every one of you again and soon,
Hugs,
Claire
[Entertainment Exchange note: Karla performed as a duo backed with guitar.]
A.C. Wedding
When I was planning my party I was quite positive that I was going to hire a DJ. I didn’t think I would be able to find a band who could play a variety of music. I enjoy listening to music from Etta James to Prince. I also wanted someone who could get the crowd moving and dancing. I was floored when I first hear Karla, she has an incredible voice. She has this natural groove and you can tell she just loves what she does. Additionally, she is a complete professional from responding to my e-mails in a timely fashion to hiring talented musicians. After the party, my friends couldn’t stop raving about Karla; she is incredibly talented and exudes great enthusiasm.
The Newseum, Washington, DC
Karla was amazing. Sooo nice. Sooo professional and sounded amazing!
L.R. – Compass Inc. Holiday Party
Karla was so accommodating and wonderful! Everyone really enjoyed the music. And she was sweet as could be.