ALTERNATIVE BIOGRAPHIES

NATALIE CRESSMAN, vocalist

Possessing a voice as cool and crystalline as an Alpine stream, Natalie Cressman is a rising singer/songwriter and trombonist who draws inspiration from a vast array of deep and powerful musical currents. Auburn Whisper—her latest album with guitarist, composer, and vocalist Ian Faquini—not only serves as a testament to the couple’s symbiotic musical partnership but also to their resilience during unprecedented times. Written and recorded in 2020, Auburn Whisper finds the two artists blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with modern, expansive arrangements—reflecting on people and places they miss while discovering joy within the present moment. Steadily evolving in many directions, Cressman has already put down deep roots in several overlapping scenes. Currently splitting her time between New York City and the Bay Area, Cressman has become an accomplished trombonist and vocalist, performing in Broadway pit orchestras, recording a variety of solo projects, and building a following in the diverse realms of jazz, funk, and jam, including 12 years touring the jam band circuit as a horn player and vocalist with Phish’s Trey Anastasio. When she’s not performing her own music, Cressman can be found collaborating with some of the most illustrious figures in rock, funk, jazz and beyond, which have included Carlos Santana, Phil Lesh, Dave Matthews, Phish, Big Gigantic, Greensky Bluegrass, Escort, Wycliffe Gordon, Nicholas Payton, Guinga, Anat Cohen, The Motet, and Umphrey’s McGee. Her passion for groove music hasn’t diluted her love of jazz. In 2016 SFJAZZ commissioned her to develop music for a concert celebrating the legacy of jazz trombonist/arranger Melba Liston.

BROOKE WILLIAMS, vocalist

Brooke Williams is a San Diego raised, LA-based writer/artist who specializes in unique, relatable concepts and melodies. Brooke was discovered by Snafu Records co-founder Ankit Desai in 2018 and flown out to Stockholm, where she collaborated with acclaimed songwriters and producers, including Carl Falk (Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Ellie Goulding) and Albin Nedler (Avicii, Martin Garrix, One Direction). Together, they wrote Brooke’s debut single “Art of Pretending,” released through Arista in 2019. Some other co-writes include Michael Pollack, Rollo, Andrew Cedar, Rabitt, Jackson Foote, Pete Nappi and Eric Nam. Brooke co-wrote “Sorry” for the massive K-Pop girl group AOA as well as the single “Care” for Atlantic artist, IV Jay. She also co-wrote and featured on Tritonal’s “Someone to Love You” as well as co-writing and featuring on Big Gigantic’s latest single “Losing My Mind”. She recently joined them on stage at Red Rocks amphitheater and Hollywood Palladium. Currently Brooke is writing for her artist project as well as other artists and TV/Film. You can hear many of her songs on shows like Selling Sunset, UFC and the most recent Starz promo.