Esther Haynes is an early jazz and American roots singer and rhythm guitarist based in the Washington, DC area. Her third album, Moon Country (2013), featuring Keith Grimes on guitar and other noted DC-area musicians, received a Washington Area Music Award (Wammie) in 2013. Her debut CD entitled Esther Haynes (2001) received a Wammie nomination, and her second release entitled Approach Note, featuring Justin Lees on guitar (2004), garnered favorable online reviews. She has received 15 Wammie awards for big band/swing or jazz vocals.
Esther studied professional music and voice at Berklee College of Music, graduating summa cum laude in 1989. Among her vocal instructors have been Mili Bermejo, Maggie Scott, Bob Stoloff, Sharon Brown, and the late jazz singer Pam Bricker, who also performed in the DC area.
If you would like to see Esther, you can find her every first Wednesday of the month at Laporta’s restaurant in Alexandria, VA (www.laportas.net) where she has held a steady gig for over fifteen years. She also performs with roots guitarist J.C. Veve every other first Saturday (January, March, May, July, September, and November) at Cassatt’s (www.cassattscafe.com) in Arlington, VA.
Listen to her 2022 cd recorded during the pandemic with dear friend and guitarist, John Dirac, entitled "Wilder on the Water" containing 10 Alec Wilder American Songbook compositions, plus 4 others, played in simple guitar/voice arrangements in non-artsong vocal keys.
