Nikki Yanofsky

by Matthew Chisling Nikki Yanofsky is a young Montreal-based talent whose phenomenal voice and jazz style made her an international success at age 15. Born February 8, 1994, Yanofsky's talent was apparent from an early age, and her love for theater made her a natural performer. In 2006 at age 12, Yanofsky became the youngest artist to ever headline her own show at the Montreal Jazz Festival, selling out numerous times and performing for crowds of over 100,000. In 2007, she made her recording debut on the Ella Fitzgerald tribute album We All Love Ella, where she performed Ella's classic "Airmail Special." This made Yanofsky the youngest performer to ever sing on a Verve Records album, and made her an international phenomenon. She then went on to record with famous artists such as Herbie Hancock and will.i.am for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audio book, On the Shoulders of Giants. In addition to her jazz fame, Yanofsky became a recognizable talent in the teen pop market, recording a French and English version of "Gotta Go My Own Way" for the High School Musical 2 soundtrack, as well as appearing on YTV's The Next Star. On September 23, 2008, Yanofsky released her first live CD/DVD album, entitled Ella...Of Thee I Swing, which was an impressive recorded version of one of her many spectacular live performances, in tribute to the jazz legend. The album became a critical and commercial success, and earned her two of Canada's coveted Juno Awards nominations, one for "Vocal Jazz Album of the Year" and "New Artist of the Year"; in both categories she stands as one of the youngest vocalists ever to earn such an honor. Yanofsky is currently working with Grammy Award-winning producer Phil Ramone on her debut album of original material, but her vocal mastery, along with her effervescent demeanor, makes her an artist with more than just a little fame under her belt. Not many people can say that they've achieved world-renowned success in such a critically appreciated genre like jazz, but Yanofsky can make that statement, even before her 16th birthday.