BIX TOP ACT: NICOLE ZURAITIS

Nicole Zuraitis is a GRAMMY®-winning and four-time GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, bandleader from New York and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal.

With a "heart as big as her remarkable voice" (Jazz Police), Nicole is a groundbreaking artist who is redefining vocal jazz and earning her a place as one of the top female artists and "most prolific songwriters" (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond.

Nicole is a featured artist and producer on the GRAMMY-nominated album "Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence" (Best Large Ensemble) by her husband, renowned drummer, bandleader and composer Dan Pugach from 2025, for which they composed the GRAMMY-nominated song, "Little Fears" (Best Jazz Performance). Nicole's arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene," which she co-wrote with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®, launching her career and making her a household name in the modern jazz landscape. In 2020, she was named one of Connecticut Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 for 2020 and her weekly livestream during the Covid-19 crisis, "Virtual Piano Lounge," was featured in Forbes Magazine. Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries including Christian McBride, David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Stephen Feifke, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim, Rachel Z, Helen Sung and Bernard Purdie . She is a proud educator and currently a vocal instructor at NYU and SUNY Purchase.

A passionate activist with a decade-long track record of giving back, her album release in 2023 coincided with a self-produced music festival and day of activism for Save the Sound.Org. In 2024, Post University awarded Nicole an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

Lineup: Nicole Zuraitis (voc, p); Idan Morim (git); Sam Weber (b); Dan Pugach (dr)