Kristina Koller Takes Jazz on the Flipside in NYC

By Rich Monetti****Kristina Koller grew up in Westchester, studied at The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and got her BFA in music education at The City College of New York.  In between, Koller performed at gigs locally with her band and put theory into practice.  Three years later,  NYC serves as her musical office space and the oppressive economics of being a working musician obviously factor in. So, she applies business 101 to make ends meet. “I go home a lot,” Koller joked.  She also teaches privately, but resignation to real life doesn’t mean giving up on her dreams.

“That’s how it is as a musician,” she said. “You can’t rush anything.”

Her journey certainly speaks to that.  Koller began singing at eight, did musical theatre as a singer and a dancer and had a high school Indy rock band. So, seeking to expand into unchartered areas always accompanied her outlook.  This had the Yorktown, NY native learning the ukulele and actually performing in an opera.

It’s no surprise then that once higher education came a calling, she stayed the course.   “I wanted to keep exploring music and see whatever I could discover,” Koller said. “So I went to school for Jazz.”

Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan and Chet Baker, she found that the educational takeaway didn’t contain her creativity to any given copyright.    “I love that you can take a song, flip it anyway you want and make it your own,” said Koller.

However, the singer/songwriter prefers to share the claim on the bigger stage in NYC and is glad to have left the Westchester open mics behind.   “People love the music there,” she said, “but It’s not the same as playing in a jazz club that is sold out and the people are listening and really appreciating the music.”

Appearing at venues such as Smalls, Smoke, Minton’s, Mezzrow and The Apollo, Koller doesn’t mind getting paid either.  Of course, dividends on the recording end mire her among the online morass. “Today it’s all about getting onto Spotify playlists and getting followers,” she lamented.

That said, the presence is getting some play on her 2018 album, Perception. “’Skinny Love’ seems to be the big hit,” Koller said. “For the cover, I did my own thing and it’s on a bunch of playlists.”

The twenty-something reserves her personal chart-topper for “Save Your Love for Me” and she can’t help but exercise the authority that her pulpit gives her.  “I’ve been signing that song for three years and I can’t stop,” Koller beamed.

Appearing on her 2019 live EP, At the Poli Club, Kristina’s vocals possess both an infectious rasp and haunting undertone that play perfect off the soothing accompaniment of her band.  The synergy isn’t contained to the stage or studio either.  “We’ve grown really close to one another,” she said.

Fima Chupakhin on piano synth, James Robbins on upright and electric bass and Joe Spinelli on drums, round out the proximity. But she’s also quick to assert that random ten minute solos don’t play in her band  “I’m the singer, they’re here to see the singer,” Koller let’s them know.

On the other hand, a degree of single-mindedness does not cause the sound to stagnate.  “We all listen to each other and things take off and go into all different directions,” said Koller.

The sound meanders in the studio too and recently got a kick from having a producer on board.  “It’s been really cool having someone to push me and the band into different directions,” she said. “It really got me out of my comfort zone.”

As for bringing original songs to life, she sees no need to stray. “I don’t feel comfortable writing a song that has nothing to do with who I am,” Koller said. “That’s just not genuine.”

“You’re Here Now” shows off the depth of Koller’s vocal abilities, but the groove she loves so much doesn’t just burrow for the beat of her heart.  “A lot of people have told me they want it to be played at their wedding, so I love that I could connect with people like that,” said Koller.

On the other hand, she knows Jazz never gets lost in translation and has long set her sights on a European tour.  Unfortunately, she’s not quite there yet.