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Nicole Zuraitis

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Nicole Zuraitis
Born
Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • arranger
Years active2007–present
SpouseDan Pugach
AwardsGrammy Award
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Piano
  • vocals
Websitenicolezmusic.com

Nicole Zuraitis is an American jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, and arranger.[1] She won a Grammy Award in 2024 for Best Jazz Vocal Album for How Love Begins as well as being nominated for Grammy Awards in 2019 and 2025.[1] She has collaborated with artists such as Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Carter, Christian McBride, Darren Criss, and Livingston Taylor.[2][3][4]

Early Life and Education

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Nicole Zuraitis was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to parents Brett and Jeanette Zuraitis and is of Lithuanian and Italian decent.[5][6][7][8] She began singing at 11 years of age and played trombone and percussion in middle school. She attended Litchfield public schools and Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Connecticut where she played competitive soccer until she was injured during a game in France.[9] She was later inducted into the 2020 Crusader Hall of Honor.[10] Zuraitis began to sing jazz with a local community college big band after being encouraged by her high school music director and attended Litchfield Jazz Camp, which she attributes to her early interest in jazz.[11][12]

Zuraitis studied classical voice at New York University where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music in 2007 and later earned her Master's Degree from LSU Shreveport.[13] After a brief period performing opera professionally after graduation, she moved back to New York City to pursue songwriting and jazz in 2009.[5][14][15]

Career

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Zuraitis has released nine albums; Spread the Word (2008), Pariah Anthem (2012), Hive Mind (2017), Live at Two-Headed Calf with Brandon Scott Coleman (2018), Cafės & Conversations (2023), How Love Begins (2024), Siren Songs Volumes 1 and 2 (2024), and Live at Vic's Las Vegas (2025).[16][17][18] She has recorded on album projects as a co-leader including Sonica (2022) and Bianca Reimagined Dan Pugach Big Band (featuring Nicole Zuraitis) (2024).

In 2015, Zuraitis was a runner-up in the The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.[19] In 2019, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals for her performance of Dolly Parton’s Jolene in collaboration with Dan Pugach and in 2024, won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for How Love Begins.[1] Zuraitis had received a music production grant from the Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation to complete her album, How Love Begins in 2022.[17] In 2025, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance for Little Fears.[1] Zuraitis was included in Connecticut Magazine's Class of 2020's "40 under 40"[20] and was listed in DownBeat's Annual Critics Polls in 2024 and 2025 as a "Rising Star, Female Vocalist of the Year."[21][22]

Zuraitis is a featured vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and has performed at jazz Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel, 54 Below and the 55 Bar. She has performed as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and Macon Pops and has accompanied singers including Jon Batiste, Melanie, and Morgan Jameson piano and vocals.[23][24]

Awards

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Year Nominated work Category Award Result
2025 Little Fears Best Jazz Performance Grammy Award Nominated
2024 How Love Begins Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy Award Won
2024 Female Vocalist of the Year[25] JJA Jazz Award Nominated
2024 Birdland Jazz Best Big Band/Swing Show[26] BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award Won
2021 Vocal Competition[27] American Tradition Vocal Competition Won
2019 Jolene Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals Grammy Award Nominated
2014 Herb Alpert Young Composer Award[23] ASCAP Won

Discography

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Source:[28][29]

As leader

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  • How Love Begins (Extended Edition 2024)[30]
  • How Love Begins (2024)[31]
  • Cafės & Conversations (2023)[32]
  • All Wandering Hearts (2020)[33]
  • Live at Two-Headed Calf[17] - with Brandon Scott Coleman (2018)
  • Hive Mind (2017)
  • Pariah Anthem (2012)[34]
  • Spread the Word (2008)

As group

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  • Take Some Air – EVA (2015)[23]
  • Sonica– (with Thana Alexa, Julia Adamy, Nicole Zuraitis) (2022)[35]
  • Bianca Reimagined - Dan Pugach Big Band (featuring Nicole Zuraitis) (2024)

As guest

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  • Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration - Jimmy Carter (2024)
  • Ona – Thana Alexa (Independent, 2020)[36]
  • Plus One – Dan Pugach Nonet (2018)[37]
  • Day Dream – Carmen Staaf Sextet (2017)
  • Wishes on a Neon Sign – Abbie Gardner (2017)
  • Come to Paradise – Suzanne Dean (2016)[38]

Personal life

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Zuraitis is married to drummer and composer Dan Pugach and they reside in Connecticut.[39][40]They both are advocates for fostering and rehabilitating Pit bulls.[41][42][43][44]

Zuraitis is a jazz vocal instructor at Litchfield Jazz Camp.[45]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Artist Nicole Zuraiitis". Grammy. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Dave Brubeck To Do Norfolk Benefit by Owen McNally" Hartford Courant, Page CAL17, June 18, 2009
  3. ^ "Nicole Zuraiitis". Rochester Jazz. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  4. ^ "The Nicole Zuraitis Quartet". The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center. The Arts Council, Inc. November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Nyberg, Ann (10 July 2019). "Nyberg: Nicole Zuraitis, Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, composer @2:42 and 3:49". News 8. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis, West Haven Grammy winner, cited by Borer for 'musical excellence' at City Hall reception". City of West Haven. June 27, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  7. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis Vocalist". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  8. ^ "KLAIPĖDA JAZZ ORCHESTRA ANF NICOLE ZURAITIS (USA) | Birstonas jazz".
  9. ^ "CT native Nicole Zuraitis takes home Grammy award @1:00". NBC Connecticut. February 5, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  10. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis '03 Inducted into the 2020 Crusader Hall of Honor". Holy Cross High School Waterbury. March 21, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Meet Nicole Zuraitis". Canvas Rebel. October 16, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  12. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis Vocalist". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  13. ^ "Post University Announces Grammy Award-Winning Nicole Zuraitis as 2024 Commencement Speaker". Post. April 24, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "25 NYU'ers Nominated for 37 Grammy Awards". NYU. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  15. ^ "Events in Connecticut for Nov. 2-8, 2014". The New York Times. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  16. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". Apple Music. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Music Grantee - Nicole Zuraitis". CRCF. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis Quintet Live in Vegas Album Release Show". Drom. September 25, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  19. ^ Orten, Maddie. "NJPAC Honors Sarah Vaughan with Annual Jazz Vocal Competition". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  20. ^ Ofgang, Wollschlager, Yuravich, Cohen, Goncalves, Brown (27 January 2020). "40 Under 40: The Class of 2020". Connecticut Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "2024 Downbeat Critics Poll Complete Results page 48" (PDF). Downbeat. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  22. ^ "2025 Downbeat Critics Poll Complete Results page 56" (PDF). Downbeat. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  23. ^ a b c "Nicole Zuraitis on Musician's Show". Columbia. March 14, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". Rochester. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  25. ^ "2024 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings". JJA Jazz Awards. May 13, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  26. ^ "Winners Announced For The 2024 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards". BroadwayWolrd. January 17, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  27. ^ "2021 (VIRTUAL) AMERICAN TRADITIONS VOCAL COMPETITION". ATC Savannah. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  28. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis credits". Discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis credits". allmusic.com. Allmusic. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  30. ^ "How Love Begins (Extended Edition)". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  31. ^ Bilawsky, Dan (25 August 2023). "Album Review: Nicole Zuraitis: How Love Begins". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis EP Release Concert". Drom. DromNYC. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  33. ^ "All Wandering Hearts". All About Jazz. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  34. ^ "From Soccer Star to Jazz Jewel" Hartford Courant, Page G1, December 16, 2012
  35. ^ "Jazz Album Reviews: Sonica — A New Female Supergroup". Artsfuse.org. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  36. ^ "Thana Alexa - ONA". Jazzsensibilities.com. Jazz Sensibilities. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  37. ^ "Bianca Reimagined". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  38. ^ "Come to Paradise - Suzanne Dean". Amazon. Apple. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  40. ^ Ofgang, Erik; Wollschlager, Mike; Yuravich, Albie; Shameer Cohen, Sherry; Goncalves, Nicole; Brown, Pamela (29 January 2020). "Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40, class of 2020". ctpost.com. Hearst Media Services CT. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  41. ^ "Drummer and composer Dan Pugach pours plenty of love into his latest album 'Bianca Reimagined; Music for Paws and Persistence" by Doug Doyle". WBGO. September 18, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  42. ^ "Connecticut jazz couple secures 2025 Grammy nominations for music dedicated to saving rescue dogs by Abby Weiss" Record Journal, Page E1, January 25, 2025
  43. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". All About Jazz. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  44. ^ Ofgang, Erik; Wollschlager, Mike; Yuravich, Albie; Shameer Cohen, Sherry; Goncalves, Nicole; Brown, Pamela (29 January 2020). "Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40, class of 2020". ctpost.com. Hearst Media Services CT. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  45. ^ "Nicole Zuraitis". Litchfield Jazz Camp. Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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