Madeline Eastman

Madeline Eastman (born June 27, 1954, San Francisco, California), is an American jazz singer.

At 18, while watching the movie "Lady Sings the Blues," Madeline became enchanted with Diana Ross's portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday. Not yet realizing how serious and dedicated she would need to be, Eastman considered becoming a jazz singer. She has listened deeply to Miles Davis, particularly his mid-'60s quintet with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. Among vocalists, her prime inspiration is Carmen McRae, one of jazz's most incisive lyric interpreters. "There's the holy trinity – Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae – and for me it was really Carmen from the beginning," Eastman said.

In 2004, Ms. Eastman won 3rd place in the Down Beat Reader's Poll "Best Female Jazz Vocalist" and was recognized in Down Beat Magazine’s International Critics Poll as “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition.” Eastman has long been heralded for her vocal gifts, interpretive savvy, and irrepressible sense of adventure. She has played from Japan to Finland, San Francisco's Yoshi, the Bay Area's jazz oasis at Jack London Square, New York nightclubs, the Cotati Jazz Festival, the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Glasgow Jazz Festival. She splits her time between touring and teaching at Stanford Jazz Workshop in the vocal department. She was also named Department Chair of Jazz Vocal Studies at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, CA.

She has released five CD's on her own Mad Kat label that she co-founded with vocalist Kitty Margolis. Eastman has recorded with such luminaries as pianists Cedar Walton, & Kenny Barron, saxophonist Phil Woods, bassist Rufus Reid, and drummer Tony Williams.