‘Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?’ - Jazz Virtuoso; Emma Pask

STAGES with Peter Eyers

Award winning vocalist Emma Pask, has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s favourite voices in Jazz. Her effortless, honest stage presence combined with her powerful vocal ability, leaves audiences spellbound and inspired whenever she takes to the stage.

While Emma’s voice and style are unique, and individually her own, her performances are reminiscent of the classic era of jazz, when swing was top of the charts. Her talent was first spotted by internationally renowned Jazz great James Morrison, when she was just 16 years old. She joined his band as the lead vocalist and went on to spend a solid 20 years touring the world with Morrison.

On request Emma performed the Bridal Waltz for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at their wedding. More recently she played support to Legendary Guitarist/Vocalist George Benson when he toured Australia. Emma opened for Grammy Award winning American vocalist Kurt Elling, on his 2018 Australian Tour.

Emma is a “Mo’ award winner for Jazz Vocalist of the year, and has received two ARIA award nominations for Best Jazz Album of the Year in 2014 and 2016.

Emma has had the honour to sing for VIP audiences including the late Diana Princess of Wales and Princess Mary of Denmark. She has sung in London at The Queen Elizabeth Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Emma has performed in China with The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Auckland with the NZ Philharmonic, and with the WA Symphony Orchestra in Perth.

In 2019 the Emma Pask Band headlined at the Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. Emma has toured her band throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. She has received rave reviews for her performances in Uruguay, South America, and is a regular at the prestigious Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Despite her achievements and the international recognition of her talent, Emma retains her natural, refreshing and unpretentious, positive approach to life.

Jazz virtuoso James Morrison says of Emma, “Whilst it’s fashionable to be a jazz singer these days, she is the real thing!”

In 2020 amidst the Covid 19 lockdown, Emma was chosen by The Sydney Opera House to launch the first of their concerts live streamed from the stage of the hallowed Joan Sutherland Theatre. This performance won the offical Time Out (in) award for favourite Arts livestream. In 2021 The Emma Pask Big Band brought Sydney’s music scene back to life after lockdown, as they featured with a sold out performance at Sunset Piazza.
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