Christy Baron

Christy Baron, a jazz and pop singer as well as actress, grew up in Pittsburgh and launched her vocal work by performing as a cabaret artist and pianist during her music studies at Carnegie-Mellon University there. Relocating to New York in 1984, she took piano gigs in intimate jazz venues until frequent offers to act and record television jingles began to pull her in other directions. Over time she has shared stages in New York City and beyond with Natalie Cole, Phoebe Snow, Melba Moore, Carly Simon, Dr. John, and David Sanborn. Her Chesky Records releases, issued by the New York City label, began with the 1997 debut I Thought About You, followed by Steppin', Take This Journey, and Retrospective. The second of those Chesky projects, Steppin', draws on material from Peter Gabriel, the Beatles, Prince, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Rather than limiting herself to straight-ahead jazz, Baron identifies as an interpreter of songs who blends funk, world music, and electronica into her recordings. Before joining Chesky Records in 1997 she portrayed Julie Hammer in the film Pants on Fire and took the role of Fantine in a Broadway mounting of Les Miserables. She maintains an active schedule of acting, recording, and touring while residing in suburban New York City alongside her husband and daughter.