Welcome to the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast!

Nicole Zuraitis is a 2× GRAMMY Award–winning jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, arranger and educator known for her emotional storytelling, vocal power, and genre-crossing creativity. With a career spanning more than 15 years and six studio albums as a bandleader, Nicole has become a defining voice in contemporary vocal jazz.

A 6× GRAMMY nominee, winner of the American Traditions Vocal Competition, and named a Rising Star Vocalistby DownBeat Magazine and the Jazz Journalists Association, Nicole has collaborated with leading artists including Christian McBride, Dan Pugach, Veronica Swift, Antônio Sánchez, Thana Alexa, Rachel Z, and Omar Joaquin, and previously served as the premier vocalist for the Birdland Big Band.

Beyond the stage, Nicole advocates for mental-health awareness, environmental responsibility, and animal-rescue activism. Together with her husband Dan Pugach, she has fostered over 13 rescue dogs, integrating compassion and community into her artistic mission.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday!
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EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
www.patreon.com/mariamendesjazz

Follow
Nicole Zuraitis – https://www.nicolezmusic.com
Maria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #PodcastLaunch #NicoleZuraitis #WomenInJazz #JazzVocalists #GrammyWinner #GrammyNominee #WomenComposers #CreativeVoices #WomenInMusic #BehindTheMusic #JazzPiano #BirdlandBigBand #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #IndependentArtists #VocalJazz #JazzEducation

EXTRA 5 is a brand-new segment from the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast, where our guests answer five exclusive questions you won’t hear in the full episode!New content drops every Tuesday — one week, a full in-depth interview, the next, this exciting rapid-fire session!In this special segment, 5× GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin joins us for a quick, bold, and brilliantly candid Q&A. Known for her electrifying presence on stage and her powerful fusion of jazz, soul, and contemporary music, Lakecia brings humor, honesty, and unstoppable energy to this rapid-fire session.With a career spanning 20+ years — including collaborations with McCoy Tyner, Ravi Coltrane, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and The Roots — Lakecia has become one of the defining voices of modern jazz. She is also the founder of Women of the World, an initiative dedicated to empowering women musicians and expanding equity in jazz education.🎧 Watch & listen now — available on all streaming platforms & YouTube!Missed the full conversation? Check out the main episode for an inspiring deep dive into Lakecia’s artistic vision, leadership, and advocacy for women in jazz.Follow:Lakecia Benjamin – https://www.lakeciabenjamin.comMaria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz |Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53#Podcast #MusicIndustry #Shorts #SisterhoodOfSound #LakeciaBenjamin #WomenInJazz #Saxophonists #JazzInnovation #WomenComposers #CreativeVoices #JazzEducation #JazzAdvocacy #ModernJazz #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #GrammyNominee #LatinGrammyNominee #WomenInMusic #BehindTheMusic

Welcome to the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast!

New York–born saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin is one of the most dynamic and visionary voices in contemporary jazz today. With an electrifying sound rooted in jazz, soul, and Afro-diasporic traditions, she brings unstoppable energy, deep emotional storytelling, and political urgency to her music.

A 5× GRAMMY-nominated artist, Lakecia has released five albums as a bandleader and has collaborated with legends including McCoy Tyner, Ravi Coltrane, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and The Roots. Her work bridges tradition and innovation, honoring the lineage of John and Alice Coltrane while carving out a bold, unmistakable identity of her own.

Beyond the stage, Lakecia is the founder of Women of the World, an initiative dedicated to empowering women musicians and expanding equity in jazz education through partnerships with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Jazz Education Network. In 2024, she was honored as Jazz Female Artist of the Year for her artistic excellence and tireless advocacy.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday!
Subscribe, like, and comment to join the celebration.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: www.patreon.com/mariamendesjazz

Follow:
Lakecia Benjamin – https://www.lakeciabenjamin.com
Maria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #PodcastLaunch #LakeciaBenjamin #WomenInJazz #ModernJazz #JazzInnovation #Saxophonists #WomenComposers #CreativeVoices #JazzEducation #JazzAdvocacy #McCoyTyner #RaviColtrane #TheRoots #TerriLyneCarrington #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #GrammyNominee #LatinGrammyNominee #WomenInMusic #BehindTheMusic

EXTRA 5 is a brand-new segment from the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast, where our guests answer five exclusive questions you won’t hear in the full episode!New content drops every Tuesday — one week, a full in-depth interview, the next, this exciting rapid-fire session!In this special segment, award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, and improviser Camille Bertault joins us for a quick, playful, and insightful Q&A. Known for her dazzling vocal virtuosity, inventive lyrics, and her ability to move effortlessly between bebop, French chanson, and Brazilian music, Camille brings humor, spontaneity, and artistic fearlessness to this refreshing mini-interview.🎧 Watch & listen now — available on all streaming platforms & YouTube!Missed the full conversation? Check out the main episode for an in-depth dive into Camille’s creative journey!Follow:Camille Bertault – https://www.camillebertault.comMaria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz |Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#Podcast #MusicIndustry #Shorts #SisterhoodOfSound #CamilleBertault #WomenInJazz #VocalImprovisation #FrenchJazz #BebopVocals #BrazilianJazz #WomenComposers #CreativeVoices #JazzInnovation #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #GrammyNominee #LatinGrammyNominee

Welcome to the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast!

French jazz vocalist, composer, and lyricist Camille Bertault is one of today’s most inventive jazz voices. Rooted in bebop improvisation and known for her dazzling vocal agility, she moves fluidly between French and Portuguese, bridging Parisian jazz with the lyricism of Brazilian music.

Winner of the 2023 Victoires du Jazz Award for Best Jazz Vocalist and nominee for the German Jazz Prize, Camille has released seven albums as a bandleader. Her collaborations span Guinga, Hamilton de Holanda, Vanessa Moreno, Dani Gurgel, Dan Tepfer, Jeff Ballard, Joe Sanders, Jacky Terrasson, and the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, reflecting a musical world where improvisation, poetry, and playfulness meet.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday!
Subscribe, like, and comment to join the celebration.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: www.patreon.com/mariamendesjazz

Follow:
Camille Bertault – https://www.camillebertault.com
Maria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #PodcastLaunch #CamilleBertault #WomenInJazz #FrenchJazz #JazzVocalist #VocalImprovisation #BebopSingers #BossaNova #MPB #BrazilianJazz #WomenComposers #CreativeVoices #WomenInMusic #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #GrammyNominee #LatinGrammyNominee #JazzEducation #BrusselsJazzOrchestra

EXTRA 5 is a brand-new segment from the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast, where our guests answer five exclusive questions you won’t hear in the full episode! New content drops every Tuesday—one week, a full in-depth interview, the next, this exciting rapid-fire session!

In this special segment, award-winning musical theater actress, singer, and producer Sissi Martins takes a break from the stage to get candid in our lightning-round Q&A — from favorite roles and dream collaborations to what inspires her beyond the spotlight. Known for starring in Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, and voicing Disney heroines like Raya and Belle, Sissi opens up with humor, warmth, and authenticity.

🎧 Watch & listen now to the FULL EPISODE — available on all streaming platforms:

Follow:
Sissi Martins – https://www.instagram.com/sissimartins_
Maria Mendes – www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazzSissi Martins – https://www.instagram.com/sissimartins_
Maria Mendes – www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz | Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #PodcastLaunch #SissiMartins #WomenInTheatre #MusicalTheatre #PortugueseArtists #DisneyVoices #CreativeVoices #WomenInMusic #FunQandA #StageAndScreen #Extra5 #BroadwayVoices #WomenEmpowerment #BehindTheMusic #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #LatinGrammyNominee #GrammyNominee

Welcome to the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast!

Award-winning musical theater actress, singer, and producer Sissi Martins takes us behind the curtain of her two-decade career in music and theater. From starring in hit productions like The Last 5 Years, Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Zorro to voicing iconic Disney characters like Raya, Dolores (Encanto), and Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Sissi has become one of Portugal’s most versatile and beloved performers.

A winner of the TV show A Tua Cara Não Me É Estranha and founder of the MTL Foundation, she advocates for women’s empowerment and LGBTQ+ rights while building bridges between Broadway and Portugal. With warmth, humor, and heart, she reflects on artistry, identity, and purpose on and off stage.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday!
Subscribe, like, and comment to join the celebration.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: www.patreon.com/mariamendesjazz

Follow:
Sissi Martins – https://www.instagram.com/sissimartins_
Maria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #PodcastLaunch #SissiMartins #WomenInTheatre #MusicalTheatre #PortugueseArtists #WomenInMusic #BroadwayVoices #DisneyVoices #VocalPerformance #StageAndScreen #LGBTQArtists #WomenEmpowerment #BehindTheMusic #CreativeVoices #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #grammynominatedvocalist #grammynominee "latingrammynominee

EXTRA 5 is a brand-new segment from the Sisterhood of Sound podcast, where our guests answer five exclusive questions you won’t hear in the full episode! New content drops every Tuesday—one week, a full in-depth interview, the next, this exciting rapid-fire session!

In this special segment, three-time GRAMMY-winning jazz vocalist, composer, and visual artist Cécile McLorin Salvant lets her imagination run free in a bold and personal Q&A. Known for blending storytelling, theater, and jazz with fearless creativity, she reveals witty, inspiring, and surprising sides of her artistry.

🎧 Watch & listen now to the FULL EPISODE — available on all streaming platforms & YouTube!

Follow:
Cécile McLorin Salvant – https://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com
Maria Mendes – www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz & SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53?si=-l7u7xiDRp-SEoUKQ8ZDww

#SisterhoodOfSound #PodcastLaunch #CecileMcLorinSalvant #WomenInJazz #JazzVocalists #StorytellingThroughMusic #CreativeVoices #WomenInMusic #Extra5 #BehindTheMusic #GrammyWinner #JazzVoices #TheatreAndJazz #VisualArtist #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz #FearlessCreativity #WomenComposers #JazzArtistry

Welcome to the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast!
Three-time GRAMMY Award winner Cécile McLorin Salvant is an American vocalist, composer, and lyricist celebrated for revitalizing forgotten songs with theatrical flair, narrative depth, and striking originality. With seven studio albums as a bandleader, she has become one of the most visionary voices in contemporary jazz.

A recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, the Doris Duke Artist Award, and the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, Cécile bridges tradition and innovation through her bold storytelling and musical intelligence. In this episode, she opens up about her artistic process, visual art, and Ogresse—her self-written cantata now evolving into an animated film.

Cécile has collaborated with Sullivan Fortner, Fred Hersch, Darcy James Argue, Aaron Diehl Trio, Alexa Tarantino, and performed with leading orchestras including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, the Metropole Orkest, and The Knights.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday!
Subscribe, like, and comment to join the celebration.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: www.patreon.com/mariamendesjazz

Follow:
Cécile McLorin Salvant – https://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com
Maria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #CecileMcLorinSalvant #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz
#WomenInJazz #WomenInMusic #JazzPodcast #CreativeWomen #JazzVoices
#GrammyWinner #JazzInnovators #ArtistryInMotion #JazzStorytelling
#ContemporaryJazz #VocalJazz #JazzCulture #BehindTheMusic
#JazzCreatives #MusicAndArt #VisualArtInJazz #JazzVocalist
#MacArthurFellow #JazzAtLincolnCenter #MetropoleOrkest
#WomenComposers #JazzIcons

Welcome to the Sisterhood of Sound Podcast!
Three-time GRAMMY Award winner Cécile McLorin Salvant is an American vocalist, composer, and lyricist celebrated for revitalizing forgotten songs with theatrical flair, narrative depth, and striking originality. With seven studio albums as a bandleader, she has become one of the most visionary voices in contemporary jazz.

A recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, the Doris Duke Artist Award, and the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, Cécile bridges tradition and innovation through her bold storytelling and musical intelligence. In this episode, she opens up about her artistic process, visual art, and Ogresse—her self-written cantata now evolving into an animated film.

Cécile has collaborated with Sullivan Fortner, Fred Hersch, Darcy James Argue, Aaron Diehl Trio, Alexa Tarantino, and performed with leading orchestras including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, the Metropole Orkest, and The Knights.

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday!
Subscribe, like, and comment to join the celebration.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: www.patreon.com/mariamendesjazz

Follow:
Cécile McLorin Salvant – https://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com
Maria Mendes – https://www.instagram.com/mariamendesjazz
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BTAvohFPOilgPk8Mddv53

#SisterhoodOfSound #CecileMcLorinSalvant #MariaMendes #MariaMendesJazz
#WomenInJazz #WomenInMusic #JazzPodcast #CreativeWomen #JazzVoices
#GrammyWinner #JazzInnovators #ArtistryInMotion #JazzStorytelling
#ContemporaryJazz #VocalJazz #JazzCulture #BehindTheMusic
#JazzCreatives #MusicAndArt #VisualArtInJazz #JazzVocalist #JazzAtLincolnCenter #MetropoleOrkest
#WomenComposers #JazzIcons #grammywinner #grammynominee