Jazz Hot Kristin Korb: "What's Your Story"?

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

What's Your Story?, the new album from internationally recognized jazz artist Kristin Korb answers that very question with 12 timeless tunes that celebrate her story as a jazz vocalist and bassist. 

The multifaceted Ms. Korb - also writes and has taught music as well...she now calls Denmark her primary residence and has a great sense of style and humor.

Time to let your inner Sherlock out and unravel the mystery of who is Kristin Korb and What's Her Story...???

MS: Your CD tells your story as a jazz vocalist and bassist with eleven classic tracks and one original. Give us the inside scoop on the original track.

KK: It's called "Always Searching For My Baby". It's about a friend of mine I met when I was teaching at USC, Amber Navran, she took in all the jazz stuff and does her own thing, she has a band now call Moon Child.

MS: Oh cool. I thought that it was great that you were inspired to put "Don't Fence Me In" on your album by your parents.

KK: My Dad was always making up songs when we were kids and he would quote things that we thought he made up, and then we would hear it on the radio. I grew up on Country music and within the jazz repertoire "Don't Fence Me In" is about as close as you are going to get to Country. (laughs) There's a little bit of humor and tongue in cheek to it, so for me it was a fun song to do.

MS: Your parents also pushed you to be independent and follow your own path as well.

KK: Yes, definitely whether they enjoyed that later in life or not. (laughs)

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

MS: How was your teaching stint at USC by the way?

KK: It was great! The level of musicianship in that school is so high. It was so inspiring for me to walk into the building and hear the music. To be a part of that was really amazing.

MS: You also taught in my home state at Central Washington University, cold enough for you?

KK: It was cold, and there's a lot of cows there. (laughs)

MS: So what influenced you to record an album that told your story?

KK: A lot of it was inspired by my move to Denmark. Whenever you move to a new place everything is different, the language, the culture, the weather...I found myself going back to things that reminded of why I fell in love with jazz in the first place and people and things that I love. It's all about the stories and the memories, like how a certain song can remind you of something you ate in a restaurant, that was the time you  heard it and it extends to a particular emotion.

MS: You were drawn to jazz in Middle School, why?

KK: Here's what happened, I was in sixth grade getting ready to go to Middle School and the music groups from the school came to visit us. They performed for us, I heard the band and I was like, uh yeah, OK. I heard the orchestra and thought, not so much. Then the vocal jazz ensemble performed, they had cool out fits, they moved to the music, smiling and having a blast! I knew that's what I wanted in music, at the time I did not know what this is, all I know is I wanted it. To me it was empowering that I could be a part of something that would make other people have a good time.

MS: One of my favorite tracks on your CD is "I Wanna Be Loved" which you equate with turning forty.

KK: Yes!

MS: I actually liked turning forty I want to hear your take on it.

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

KK: It was great! I was kind of worried about it going towards it, thirty-eight to forty I was a little like, I'm going to be forty, what does this mean? How do I feel about it? Then when I turned forty, I was having so much fun, I have great friends, fulfilling work, I'm not for want of anything. I have the best life ever! Everything is out there and exposed and "I Wanna Be Loved" and this is how I want it.

MS: Since living in Denmark how much have you grown to like curry red herring?

KK: If I call it herring, then I am like ewwwwwwwwwwww, herring! But if I call it sild, I can stomach that! (laughs)

Get more of Kristin's story at: http://www.kristinkorb.com/