At The Improv Café, we do jazz differently. Every track you hear on our station is performed live—whether it’s classic Big Band swing, timeless vocal jazz, or smooth jazz standards, the one rule we live by is simple: only live versions make the cut. That’s what makes listening here an experience rather than just background noise. Every night, the music breathes, swings, and unfolds as if you’re sitting in the front row of the concert hall.
And tonight, Sundays take on a special glow with our Singing with Swing Radio Show. Designed for unwinding, reflecting, and simply enjoying great music, this program showcases some of the most spectacular vocal jazz artists of our time. It’s a night where artistry takes the spotlight—no studio tricks, just the pure brilliance of singers who know how to make a lyric soar. Pour a glass of wine, dim the lights, and let the power of live vocal jazz carry you into the week ahead.
Major Vocal Jazz Headlines in 2025
It’s been a landmark year for vocal jazz, with accolades, festivals, and education shaping the future of the art form. Let’s take a closer look at the headlines making waves across the jazz community.
🎶 Awards and Accolades
- Samara Joy wins another GRAMMY: February 2025 brought another crowning moment for Samara Joy, who took home the GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her holiday project A Joyful Holiday. Already a star with her 2023 win for Best New Artist, Joy continues to define this generation of vocal jazz.
- Sarah Vaughan Competition finalists revealed: By October 8, 2025, finalists for the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition were notified. The competition, held in Newark this August, remains one of the most prestigious stages for emerging vocal talent.
- Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso takes home the SASSY Award: The Mexican vocalist claimed the top honor at the 11th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in late August 2025. Her win cements her status as a rising international star.
🎤 Festivals and Competitions
- Vocal Jazz Summit in Virginia Beach: June 2025 brought together some of the finest voices in the world at the International Vocal Jazz Summit. Grammy-nominated artists like Christie Dashiell and René Marie not only performed but also shared their expertise through workshops and masterclasses. The event partnered with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation to honor the First Lady of Song.
- Millikin Vocal Jazz Invitational: February 2025 marked the return of this beloved gathering, redesigned as a non-competitive festival. The focus shifted to clinics and masterclasses, creating a supportive atmosphere for vocalists and instrumentalists alike.
- Concordia Vocal Jazz Festival: Looking ahead, Concordia College has announced its 2026 festival for January 31, featuring New York Voices, who will perform and lead clinics before their retirement year begins.
- Seattle-Kobe Jazz Vocalist Audition returns: After a hiatus, the Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Audition came roaring back in 2025. The winner earned a trip to Japan to perform—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- Caldera choir triumphs: In April 2025, Caldera’s ensemble made waves at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, showcasing the growing strength of vocal jazz ensembles on the competition circuit.
🎓 Educational Milestones and Performances
- CSULB in Cuba: June 2025 was transformative for students of Cal State Long Beach’s Pacific Standard Time ensemble, who toured Cuba. Their cultural and musical exchange left a lasting impression, both on them and their audiences.
- ASU adds Typhanie Monique Coller: Arizona State University strengthened its faculty in July 2024 by welcoming acclaimed recording artist Typhanie Monique Coller as a clinical associate professor of voice.
- Sarah Gazarek at Eastman: April 2025 brought exciting news for Eastman School of Music as Grammy-winning vocalist Sarah Gazarek joined as associate professor of jazz voice, ensuring the next generation learns directly from one of today’s best.
- New York Voices announce retirement: After decades of excellence, the legendary ensemble will retire at the end of 2026. Their influence on vocal jazz pedagogy and performance will live on.
- UWSP Wausau Vocal Jazz Festival: April 2025 once again saw Wisconsin’s finest gather for clinics, performances, and community-building at this celebrated annual festival.
Why The Improv Café is the Home for Live Vocal Jazz
All of this excitement in the jazz world connects perfectly with what we do here at The Improv Café. Our programming ensures that you don’t just hear jazz—you feel its energy. With us, every performance is live, every note is authentic, and every singer’s interpretation is uniquely theirs in that moment. From the swing-era greats to today’s award-winning vocalists, this is where their voices find a living, breathing stage.
So as we celebrate the triumphs of Samara Joy, the breakthroughs of competitions like SASSY, and the energy of international festivals, remember—The Improv Café is where those same artists and their peers shine in their truest form. No polished studio edits. Just the raw, live brilliance of jazz as it was meant to be heard.
Tonight: Singing with Swing
Sundays deserve something special, and tonight’s Singing with Swing program delivers exactly that. Featuring vocal jazz legends and rising stars alike, this show creates a warm, inviting soundtrack for your evening. Lean back, relax, and immerse yourself in the artistry that only live vocal jazz can offer.
The Improv Café—where live jazz, big band, swing, and vocal jazz are always in the spotlight, and where every song is more than music—it’s an experience.
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