Kalya Ramu - Living in a Dream (2019)

Jacob Gorzhaltsan – Tenor Saxophone & Clarinet
Ewen Farncombe – Piano
Connor Walsh – Upright Bass
Ian Wright – Drums

and special guests:

William Lamoureux – Strings
Andrew McAnsh – Trumpet
Nathan Ford – Vocals
Nathan Martin & Jackson Welchner – Background Vocals

Living in a Dream is the debut jazz album from Kalya Ramu, one of Toronto’s rising star vocalists. Featuring four of Ramu’s original compositions and a selection of songs written from1920’s to 40’s, this recording captures the essence of the golden age of swing, and transports it to the modern day.

Ramu’s original compositions combine a classic Tin Pan Alley writing style with contemporary lyrical content, helping to modernize the music while still preserving its core stylistic elements. Her arrangements of rarely recorded jazz standards hold true to the spirit of the music, bringing new life to neglected repertoire.

Ramu’s dynamic singing evokes nostalgia for a past era. Her vocal stylings have been compared to those of Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughan, three giants of jazz whose influence Ramu has been soaking up since she began performing at the tender age of twelve. Now 25, Ramu is thrilled to add her voice to the list of singers who have interpreted this incredible music.

Ramu is very active in the Toronto music scene, leading, writing for and performing with multiple groups, including her blues-rock band Angora, The Bettys, her own band Kal’s Hot Four, along with a number of others.