KATHRYN BALLARD SHUT (pronounced /shoot/) is a professional jazz pianist, vocalist, and woodwind artist, from Denver, CO. She is the daughter of 2008 Kansas Music Hall of Fame soul honoree Tim Ballard and grew up surrounded by both music lovers and professional musicians.
Classically trained on the piano beginning at age 8, adding reeds at age 10, and embracing jazz theory by age 14, Kathryn has served as both pianist and woodwind "doubler" in big bands (clarinet/flute/saxes) as well as small combos for over 30 years. Most recently, she served as a prominent member of several jazz orchestras on tenor sax, clarinet, and piano within The Colorado Jazz Workshop, under the leadership of trumpeter Hugh Ragin.
Kathryn has served as pianist and vocalist for jazz/funk combos 'The Law and Order Combo', 'Mo`Stax', 'The Vern Neeley Vibe', 'The Amy Kay Combo', 'The Sound', and 'Lost Soul', the latter with the late trumpeter/vocalist Mike Evans. She has performed all around the Front Range in popular venues such as headlining with The Vern Neeley Vibe at the Coors 150th Anniversary Celebration, a sold-out show in the Dazzle dining room with Lost Soul, and a regular date at the historic Bernard Ballroom in the Arvada Tavern.
In addition to collaborating with jazz master and father, the late Tim Ballard, Kathryn has also worked closely with Latino film and music star Daniel Valdez (of movies 'Zoot Suit' and 'La Bamba', and stage work 'The Westside Oratorio'), as well as with top Denver jazz artists Jon VanZandt, Mark Brostrom, Vern Neeley, Mark Diamond, Keith Oxman, Drew Morell, Ron Bland, Linda Theus-Lee, and many other excellent artists.
Most recently, she was honored as an ASCAP-affiliated songwriter-publisher in tight collaboration with Italian master composer-brothers, Piero and Pippo Lombardo, composing and authoring several tracks on four of Camera Soul's horn line celebration albums, "Existence" (2019), "Connections" (2017), "Dress Code" (2015), and "Not For Ordinary People" (2013). Kathryn is also a four-time Akademia Award winner in R&B/Soul with Camera Soul for achievements in both music and lyrics.
Kathryn keeps busy as president of Denver-based TIMKAT Entertainment, a record label and booking agency that focuses on promoting world-class, independent jazz, soul, and R&B talent for live performances, multimedia projects, and digital album sales online.
For more information about TIMKAT Entertainment and/or Kathryn, please visit and follow the company's social media sites:
Web: www.timkatent.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/timkatent
TikTok: @kbsjazz
Email: timkatent@gmail.com
