Velvety-voiced keyboardist Elizabeth Shepherd made her international debut when her first album, "Start To Move," was voted one of the best jazz albums of 2006 by listeners of the influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio Worldwide. Since then, this soul-jazz innovator based in Montreal has established herself as one of the most captivating and imaginative artists on the scene.
A classically trained pianist who turned to jazz through her love of old-school hip-hop, Elizabeth's style has been hailed as "wholly unique and unclassifiable … that blurs the boundaries between jazz, R&B, pop and hip hop" (MOJO Magazine, UK). A "jazz virtuoso with a pop sensibility" (Real Detroit Weekly), she has been praised by critics worldwide for her compelling songwriting and soulful performances. Nominated six times for the JUNO Awards (Canada's GRAMMY Awards) and twice for the Canada's prestigious Polaris Prize, with chart-topping singles on such airwaves as the “Tokio hot 100”, Elizabeth's 8 widely acclaimed albums feature collaborations with Lionel Loueke, Larnell Lewis, Jasper Hoiby, Mitsu the Beats and Nostalgia 77 among others.
She has extensively toured North America, Europe, Japan, and latin America, playing venues from the Tokyo Cotton Club to the London Jazz Cafe, and performing at festivals such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, Northseas and ELBJazz. She has shared the stage with diverse artists including Christian MacBride, Victor Wooten, Spankie Wilson, the Quantic Soul Orchestra, Bonobo, the Five Corners Quintet, and Jamie Cullum.
"Soulful coolness" - USA Today
"Mag-ni-fique!" - Jazzafip, Radio France
"Extraordinary talent" - RBB Kulturradio (GER)
"Plus intéressante que la presque totalité des chanteuses associées au jazz" - La Presse (CAN)
"A name to watch" - Straight No Chaser (UK)
"Stunning....original and exciting" - Seattle Post (US)
"A hugely original musical mind at work" - Toronto Star (CAN)
