Janet Seidel

Born in Australia's bush country, Janet Seidel has emerged as one of that country's leading cabaret and jazz vocalists. She has been appearing frequently at Australia's top jazz and hotel venues since the early '80s often working with bassist brother, David Seidel. Janet Seidel has also been featured at jazz festivals in the U.S. working with such jazz notables as Harry Allen, Dan Barrett, Dave McKenna, and Michael Moore. Her first venture into cabaret came in 2000 when she put together and starred in Doris and Me, a tribute to Doris Day's singing career. Often working with saxophone player Tom Baker and always with her brother, she has made eight albums for the La Brava label. Her double album The Way You Wear Your Hat was named vocal album of the year by Australia's national newspaper and was a finalist for the prestigious ARIA award. Her The Art of Lounge, Vol. 2 was similarly as finalist for that award for the AIRA Jazz Album of the Year.

Seidel does not have great range, but she uses the tools she possesses with great skill and effectiveness. With her intimate style, great feel for the lyrics of songs she sings, Seidel is one of those vocalists who is as much a story teller as she is a singer. The way she goes about handling the music comes off as a fortuitous blend of Blossom Dearie and Doris Day with an occasional nod to Julie London, although she is somewhat jazzier than the latter two. Like Jeri Southern, Shirley Horn, and Diana Krall, she often doubles at the piano. Seidel has an exquisite, gentle, and agile voice and honors each tune she sings, irrespective of whether it's a classic standard, pop, or novelty song.