Grazina Pukaite, a contemporary vocalist from Lithuania who is currently based in London, draws upon a diverse range of influences in her music. Rooted in the jazz and bebop tradition, her singing style exhibits an instrumentalist-like approach to phrasing while incorporating elements from European and Scandinavian jazz idioms. Inspired by Eastern European and Scandinavian music, Grazina’s musical influences range from Jon Hendricks to vocalist Norma Winstone.

Her introduction to jazz occurred when she first heard the legendary Carmen McRae, whose records deeply resonated with Grazina. Captivated by McRae’s expressive and personal approach to song interpretation and phrasing, Grazina admired the hard-swinging, conversational storytelling style that included listeners in the journey of the performance.

Her rich sound and compelling stage presence have continuously enchanted audiences in London, Dublin, and Lithuania.

Grazina’s performance highlights include a Jazz Festival in Lithuania, a national tour through Ireland, singing music from the “Great American Songbook,”, and a sold-out concert at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland featuring renowned Irish jazz guitarist Louis Stewart, and a performance at the Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin.

In 2018, Grazina moved to London to pursue her jazz career. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz with distinction at Middlesex University. She continued her academic journey and received a Master’s in Jazz Performance from the Guildhall School of Music in 2023.

A most recent highlight was her performance of ‘The Anatomy of Being’ at the Guildhall Jazz Festival, held at the Milton Concert Hall as part of the EFG London Festival-featuring Sam Leak on piano, Finn Genockey on drums/vibes, Jack Ross on trumpet, and Julian Woods on guitar. ‘The Anatomy of Being’ – a project which explores various musical influences and genres, such as Eastern European folk and jazz, combined with fearless improvisation elements, contemporary harmony, lush melodies, free jazz elements, and spoken word. Compositions include ‘Ode to my soles, ‘Ode to my backbone’, and ‘Ode to my fingers’, to name a few.

In late October 2023, Grazina recorded her debut EP, ‘Small Sessions I,’ which will be released on January 8, 2024, on all platforms worldwide. This forthcoming EP contains six tunes – a ‘drum-less’ captivating exploration of original compositions, Brazilian songs, and vocalese with a twist. The EP features the talents of Chris Bland on Rhodes/Hammond/Piano, Harry Brunt on tenor sax, and Julian Woods on microtonal guitar (‘Ode to My Fingers’ and ‘On Connection’). ‘Small Sessions I’ is set for release on January 8, 2024, on all platforms.