BIOGRAPHY
Changamiré was introduced to jazz as a little girl by listening to her aunt’s album collection in Washington, D.C. She was attracted to the singing of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, Dakota Staton, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone.
At 18, Changamiré began singing at jam sessions and receiving vocal instruction around the D.C. area. Her brother introduced her to Glenn “HarrMonika Musik” Turner, pianist for Gil Scott Heron. He became her first vocal coach and introduced her to recording. Together they recorded jazz standards and HarrMonika Musik originals. She later studied with the late vocalist Ronnie Wells, founder of the East Coast Jazz Festival (now the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival), and celebrated saxophonist Charlie Hampton of the historic Howard Theatre. Changamiré receives vocal training from mezzo-soprano Kehembe Eichelberger.
In 2001, she self-released her critically acclaimed debut album, Only Human. The project included a recording session at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios with a 14-piece string section from the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Washington Post named Only Human “…[one of] the most satisfying releases by area artists….” From its success came sold-out performances on notable local and international stages including Blues Alley, Apple, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the GIFT Festival in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, Harman Center for the Arts, Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, Bohemian Caverns, the Mansion at Strathmore, Arts Club of Washington, WPFW FM and Paul Stuart.
"…[one of] the most satisfying releases by area artists…."
Changamiré was awarded the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Artist Fellowship in 2005 and is now a multi-recipient of the award. Her writings and recordings have been picked up by NBC, AllAboutJazz.com and included in independent films. In September 2008, she was selected into a vocal workshop conducted by Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, Nneena Freelon.
Also overwhelmingly positive are critiques of the artist’s vocals. From fans to fellow musicians and industry publications, reviews often call out her “pristine, untainted, and angelic” voice (Afro News). AllAboutJazz.com, that compares Changamiré to Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, writes, “It’s difficult to nail down just what makes her voice so darn compelling. Maybe it’s the comfort and familiarity, maybe the confiding honesty. Whatever the case, it works exceptionally well.”
While Only Human rose to critical acclaim, the vocalist founded Sonnig Records, an independent label to produce and promote recordings, manage publishing and foster creative collaborations. She authored and instructed Recording Project 101®, a proprietary, innovative program that taught aspiring recording artists and parents how to navigate the recording process, meeting great success at music schools, high schools, Northern Virginia Community College and U.S. News-ranked Howard University.
In 2007, Changamiré hosted the juried International CD Art Competition to find the perfect cover for her sophomore album, Love, that released in 2014. The album contains an eclectic mix of songs on the subject. Jazz journalist Chris Slawecki writes:
“…songs suggest the compositional depth of Roberta Flack. But her voice is not quite so brooding, and sounds more rooted in the gospel foundation of singers such as Anita Baker. BUT it’s even different from, a bit more exotic sounding around the edges than, Baker’s straight-on gospel-soul—it almost sounds as if Eartha Kitt‘s “Catwoman” character decided to become a jazz singer. Out of the entire universe of soul, R&B and jazz vocalists, you’d think I could find one female singer with a voice similar to Changamiré’s or a style comparable to her singing. But…not yet, anyway”.
Also in 2007, Changamiré formed her world class quintet, culminating the extraordinary group that performs with her today: Count Basie alum, Lincoln Ross, is on trombone and leads as Music Director; the brilliant Clifton Brockington on piano; bluesy BT Richardson on bass; drummer to the stars, Steve Walker; and the incomparable Donvonte McCoy on trumpet.
Changamiré is co-founder of The New Jazz Listener, a weekly advocacy show on the Clubhouse app with over 13k members and a mission to convert curious listeners into new jazz fans. Special guests have included T.S. Monk, Ron Carter, Gina Belafonte, Aida Brandes-Hargrove, Diana Purim, Jon Faddis, Ola Onabule, Tulani Bridgewater, Isaiah Collier, Katea Stitt and Aki Takase.
"A true professional who understands
it’s called the music
‘BUSINESS’ for a reason."
"…not one of those singers that strain to sound like Billie; her sweet, understatedly passionate vocals have an integrity all their own."
Impressed by her moderating style, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts invited Changamiré to conduct a live interview with saxophonist Jimmy Greene in 2022. Later that year, she was selected by the German Federal Foreign Office to represent the United States in a jazz delegation that toured Berlin, Frankfurt and Darmstadt.
In 2025, Changamiré released her third album, Seeking Billie: The Unusual Tribute to Billie Holiday, returning the singer to where her jazz journey began. The intimate tribute features the iconic Rudy Van Gelder Studio, renown bassist Ron Carter and 8x Grammy songwriter and producer, Malik Yusef. Jazz critic Michael J. West writes, “The tremendous talent and charisma Changamiré possesses—coupled with the rarity of her projects—make the arrival of such a project inherently newsy.”
Changamiré is a member of the Rotary Club of Washington, DC. In 2019, Rotary District 7620 awarded her the Service Above Self Award for presenting a two-day youth conference for the renown World Press Photo exhibition. In 2020, she was given a United States Artists award.
Changamiré is an art, film and fashion enthusiast. She relishes the art of gift giving and entertaining, hosting Washington soirées and offering a refined lifestyle collection.
SONNIG RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD
Mozella Ademiluyi, Mountain Peak Strategies; Michael Akin, LINK Strategic Partners; Myrtis Bedolla, Galerie Myrtis; Jacques Burvick, music producer; Lisa McCurdy, The Wealth Counselor; and HarrMonika Musik, music producer.
