“Simply wonderful! If you like Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall or Nat King Cole, you will love Elaine.”
—April & John, bride and groom
Elaine Dame
Elaine Dame sings – and people stop and listen. Since 1996, the woman Time Out Chicago calls “a jazz dynamo” has been turning heads and capturing attention at the city’s finest clubs and venues. From her monthly performances at Katerina’s to special appearances for groups like the Chicago Cultural Center, the Chicago Yacht Club and even the Chicago Bulls, Elaine’s is a career spent at the heart of Chicago jazz.
While her ensembles range from a guitar-and-vocal cocktail duet to a full sextet for dancing, Elaine is most often found performing with her quartet or her trio. An accomplished flautist as well as a stunning vocalist, she’s a genuine double threat. And the musicians she works with rank among Chicago’s finest: a pianist who played with Dizzy Gillespie and Joni Mitchell, a guitarist who accompanied Barbara Streisand on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and a saxophonist whom the New York Times describes as “in the virtuoso range.”
But while virtuosity is a given, it’s the joy she exudes with every note that makes Elaine’s performances unforgettable. A graduate of California State Northridge’s Theatre Repertory Program, Elaine worked for years in Chicago’s theatre scene before turning her whole focus to jazz. She’s a singer who understands the importance of stage presence. It’s no wonder a reviewer for Cabaret Online wrote, “She has the ability to discover the true meaning of a song and express that to her audience. Elaine Dame gave one of the finest performances I have ever seen.”
To check Elaine's availability for your event call 630.264.2366 or click here. You can also scroll down for samples of Elaine Dame performances, read reviews from previous clients, or view her extensive song list.
