Carmen Lundy embarked on her professional journey as a jazz vocalist and composer at a time when few young talents emerged in the jazz scene. Over three decades later, she has gained international recognition for her vocal artistry and is esteemed for her innovative contributions to jazz. Lundy's extensive body of work includes more than 60 original compositions, which form a significant part of the New Jazz Songbook.
As a recording artist, Carmen has released over ten albums as a leader and has collaborated with a host of notable musicians, including her brother and bassist Curtis Lundy, Ray Barretto, Kenny Barron, Bruce Hornsby, Mulgrew Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kip Hanrahan, Courtney Pine, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Marian McPartland, Regina Carter, Steve Turre, Geri Allen, Robert Glasper, and the late Kenny Kirkland. Her 2005 album, “Jazz and The New Songbook-Live at The Madrid,” features prominent figures in jazz paying homage to her work.
Carmen Lundy's artistry as a vocalist and composer has been lauded by reputable publications such as The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, as well as various international outlets. With over sixty published songs, she is one of the few jazz vocalists to achieve such a distinction, leading to the release of the Carmen Lundy Songbook in 2007. Noteworthy recordings of her compositions include Kenny Barron's "Quiet Times," Ernie Watts' "At The End Of My Rope," and Straight Ahead's "Never Gonna Let You Go."
Her own recordings include “Good Morning Kiss” (CLR/Afrasia Productions), “Moment To Moment” (Arabesque/Afrasia Productions), “Night And Day” (CBS/SONY), “Old Devil Moon” (JVC), “Self Portrait” (JVC), “Something To Believe In,” and “This Is Carmen Lundy” (both for Justin Time), along with “Jazz and The New Songbook – Live at The Madrid” (a two-disc set and DVD, Afrasia Productions), as well as her latest works, “Come Home” and “Solamente” (Afrasia Productions).
Born in Miami, Florida, Carmen Lundy is the eldest of seven children. Her musical journey began at the age of six with piano lessons, inspired by her mother, who was the lead singer of the gospel group The Apostolic Singers. Lundy attended The University of Miami as an Opera major but soon discovered her true passion for jazz. While actively participating in the Miami jazz scene, she graduated with a degree in Studio Music and Jazz, becoming one of the first vocalists to do so. In the spring of 1978, she moved to New York City, quickly gaining recognition in jazz circles across the Tri-State area. Esteemed critic Gary Giddins remarked in 1983, "Jazz singing stopped regenerating itself about 20 years ago, and it's not hard to see why, so it's with some trepidation that I call your attention to an authentic young jazz singer named Carmen Lundy - she's got it all." With a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim, Lundy's influence extends beyond North America to Asia, the UK, and Europe.
In addition to her performance career, Lundy is committed to education, conducting Master Classes in Australia, Denmark, Russia, Japan, Switzerland, New York, Washington, D.C., Northern California, and Los Angeles, among other locations. Since 1998, she has participated in Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Program at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., serving as Resident Clinician and guest artist. She has also collaborated with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in similar capacities.
Carmen Lundy is also a talented actress, finding comfort in the art of performance. She portrayed Billie Holiday in the Off-Off Broadway play "They Were All Gardenias" by Lawrence Holder, starred in Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Ladies" on Broadway, and made her television debut in the CBS Pilot-Special "Shangri-La Plaza" as Geneva before relocating to Los Angeles, where she currently resides.
Among her numerous accolades, a significant honor came when Miami-Dade's County Office of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners declared January 25th "Carmen Lundy Day" and presented her with the keys to the City of Miami. Her debut album, “Good Morning Kiss,” achieved notable success, reaching #3 on Billboard’s Jazz Chart for 23 weeks and securing several Top Ten placements on JazzWeek.
Beyond her musical achievements, Lundy has composed and arranged for the Sonoton Music Library, the largest independent production music library globally. Her compositions have been featured in television shows such as “Mad Men,” “The L Word,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” and “Baby Story,” as well as in feature films and documentaries, including “9/11 – A Remembrance.”
In addition to music, Carmen Lundy is an accomplished painter, with her oil on canvas works exhibited in venues such as The Jazz Gallery in Soho, The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, and a month-long exhibition at the Madrid Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.
