"Pianist, singer, and composer Rachel Eckroth is more than a musical chameleon. Her shapeshifting is so astonishingly dramatic that there is no upper limit to her creative identity." - Simon Rentner, WGBO
CURRENT PROJECT
THE GARDEN
GRAMMY-nominated singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Eckroth’s first release on Rainy Days Records unveils fresh sounds from her evolving artistry.
Steeped in synth orchestration, The Garden reflects a nuanced exploration of sonic impulses and inquiries alongside Eckroth’s signature layered compositions and glimmers of trance-inducing vocals. With contributions from acclaimed guitarist Nir Felder, saxophonists Donny McCaslin and Andrew Krasilnikov and modular synth master Austin White, and a core band featuring bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Christian Euman, The Garden emerged conceptually while Eckroth was composing new music during the pandemic.
“Everything on the album has a different feel to it — different colors and textures,” says the West Coast artist. “It felt like a garden. So we just rolled with it.” Eckroth began composing for big bands and large ensembles early in her career. Those years spent writing very deliberately and creatively using different textures and compositional arcs have had a compelling influence on her songwriting and her artistic identity as a solo artist.
The Garden comprises her experiences as a collaborator in a variety of contexts — including features with Rufus Wainwright, St. Vincent, KT Tunstall, Donny McCaslin, Tia Fuller and Chris Botti — over the course of her career so far.
BIO.
Eckroth can lead with a bold vision or accompany with the subtle skills necessary to make another musician shine. Her combination of jazz experimentation and pop feeling form the engine behind her own work as a leader or co-leader on 20 albums, most recently The Garde on Rainy Days Records (2021). That same crossover talent is why she’s been featured on voice and keyboards in the bands of Rufus Wainwright, St.Vincent, KT Tunstall, and Christ Botti.
Eckroth can hold an audience’s attention in an intimate jazz club or on a massive concert stage. She did the latter when she opened for Rufus Wainwright’s, All These Poses Anniversary Tour, standing on stage alone with just her keyboards and her voice, weaving a sonic landscape that kept audiences enthralled. Eckroth is no stranger to television, either, having been a member of the house band on the Meredith Vieira Show and appearing on Saturday night Live, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Good Morning America with various artists.
Eckroth has been a busy recording artist throughout her career, and the pace has only increased in recent years. In 2020, Eckroth appeared on the single “Circling” by Donny McCaslin, the acclaimed saxophonist from David Bowie’s final band. That same year, she released three singles of her own.
TOURING CONFIGURATIONS
Trio
TOUR DATES.