KARI SHAFF SINGS JAZZ

About

​Austin-Based Vocalist | Jazz • Country • Blues • Soul

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Austin-based vocalist Kari Shaff brings a velvet tone and vintage swing sensibility to every performance. Blending the elegance of classic jazz with the warmth of country, blues, and soul, she transforms each stage into an intimate, heartfelt experience—marked by expressive delivery, quick wit, and timeless style.

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The Projects

With her flagship jazz ensemble Kari Shaff & Her High Standards, she delivers torch songs and swing-era favorites with sophistication and humor. Her classic-country band The Country Clubbers celebrates the golden age of honky-tonk and jump blues, while her collaboration Hog Branch channels the funk and soul of vintage rhythm sections.

Each project reflects a different side of her voice and spirit—but across them all, Kari’s sound remains unmistakably her own: supple, sincere, and deeply rooted in feeling.

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The Journey

Originally from Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Kari began performing as soon as she could climb onto the coffee table. After building a loyal following in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, she made her home in Austin, where she’s become a cherished voice in the city’s thriving music community.

She performs regularly at beloved venues such as The Elephant Room, Skylark Lounge, and the Hill Country Galleria, sharing the stage with top Austin musicians including Andre Hayward, Josef Pelletier, Alan Langham, Michael Bahan, Will Daniel, and Larry Eisenberg.

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The Spirit

Kari’s performances capture the timeless charm of another era while staying alive with modern soul—moving effortlessly from Cole Porter to Ray Price, Billie Holiday to Ruth Brown.

Whether fronting a jazz trio in a candlelit club or leading a lively country band under the Texas sky, Kari Shaff brings elegance, heart, and authenticity to every song—proof that swing, sentiment, and songcraft never go out of style.