Julia Keefe

Julia Keefe
Born
Kamiah, Idaho, U.S.
CitizenshipNez Perce Tribe and U.S.
Alma mater
RelativesClaudia Kauffman (aunt)
Websitejuliakeefe.com

Julia Keefe is a Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) jazz vocalist based in New York City.

Early life and education

Keefe was born and raised in Kamiah, Idaho, on a Nez Perce reservation. Keefe was introduced to the music of Billie Holiday at a young age and cites Holiday as a primary inspiration.[1] Keefe's father is of Irish descent, and she is the niece of Senator Claudia Kauffman.[1]

She moved to Spokane, Washington, in 2000.[2] While attending Gonzaga Preparatory School, Keefe discovered Mildred Bailey, whom Keefe continues to research and has done tribute performances to.[1]

Keefe received her Bachelors of Music from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music in 2012. In 2019 she received her Masters of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, studying under the tutelage of Theo Bleckmann, Dave Liebman, and Kate McGarry.[3]

Career

In 2009, Keefe performed at the National Museum of the American Indian during Jazz Appreciation Month in a show titled “Thoroughly Modern: Mildred Bailey Songs”, a tribute to Mildred Bailey.[1] In 2024, Keefe released Mildred Bailey Project, a full length album dedicated to the music of Bailey.[4]

In May 2022, Keefe premiered the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia.[2][5] The ensemble is composed entirely of Indigenous musicians including Mali Obomsawin and Marc Cary.[6] The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band released their first album, Incarnadine, on May 8, 2026.[7][8]

Discography

as Julia Keefe

Title Details Type Reference
Mildred Bailey Project
  • Label: Frybread Records
  • Release date: 2024
 Studio Album [2][4]

with Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band

Title Details Type Reference
Incarnadine
  • Release date: May 8, 2026
 Studio Album [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Keefe, Julia. "Rez Girl Makes Good: Nez Perce Jazz Singer Julia Keefe Hits the Big Time Doing What She Loves". Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Sommerfeld, Seth (January 15, 2026). "After growing up in Spokane, Julia Keefe returns to town with her Indigenous Jazz Ensemble". The Inlander. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ "About Julia". Julia Keefe. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Mildred Bailey Project by Julia Keefe on Apple Music, January 5, 2024, retrieved May 9, 2026
  5. ↑ "Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band". The Trump Kennedy Centre. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ Saxton, Tobin (March 27, 2026). "Julia Keefe's Indigenous Big Band is a champion of decolonization". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Incarnadine, by Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band". Julia Keefe. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ Gilbert, Andrew (March 10, 2026). "The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band Embodies Defiant Beauty". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ Cristi, A. A. (May 8, 2026). "Julia Keefe's All-Indigenous Jazz Orchestra Releases Debut Album INCARNIDINE". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.