Kathleen Bertrand

Atlanta has long cultivated a reputation for nurturing exceptional musical talent, and jazz vocalist Kathleen Bertrand continues that tradition. Blessed with a three-octave range, she has drawn enthusiastic listeners across the globe. Her independent 1999 release, All of Me, met with immediate support on jazz radio outlets everywhere, placing tracks in rotation from New York to Brazil to Great Britain. Festival appearances at the Montreaux Jazz Festival’s Concerts Acoustique in both 1999 and 2000, plus slots at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Sinbad Soul Music Festival, and the National Black Arts Festival 2000, further strengthened her profile. She has appeared alongside performers as diverse as David Benoit and the Sounds of Blackness. Bertrand remains a sought-after interpreter of the National Anthem, having sung it for the Falcons, Braves, and Hawks as well as Presidents Bush and Clinton. After signing with Gold Circle Records she issued No Regrets in early 2002; the collection of soulful songs about love and life received a warm welcome from jazz listeners. She added another achievement by writing the official theme for 100 Black Men of America.