Meet Kim Szabo
Kim Szabo is a pianist, vocalist, arranger and a seasoned professional musician with a performing, recording and teaching resume that spans over 40 years and the globe. She has toured, recorded and performed in Japan, Switzerland, Germany and throughout Canada.
Born and raised in Canada, she started by honing her skills through jazz and classical training, with studies at Grant MacEwan Music Program in Jazz and Popular music, specializing in composition, which plays to her love of music theory and harmony. During this time, Kim was an active member of Edmonton Musical Theatre, the Alberta College Schola Cantorum choir and ProCoro professional classical choir, while also honing her vocal and piano skills within the local Jazz scene.
In early 1989, Kim took her talent overseas to Japan. For a while she toured Japan, with performances in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Okinawa. She eventually settled in Osaka. During this time, Kim was also the resident pianist at the Osaka Hilton Hotel for over 4 years. While performing as a solo artist, she established a jazz trio, and became a regular guest artist with various touring pop, jazz and funk groups, along with television and recording sessions throughout the Kansai area.
The mid 90’s saw Kim moving her now established career to Europe. During this time she toured extensively throughout Germany and Switzerland. Frankfurt, Germany became her base in 2000, where Kim continued to professionally tour, perform and teach throughout the Rhine-Main area, appearing with her various Jazz groups and Gospel projects along with securing the position of head instructor of the vocal department for Frankfurt Musikwerkstadt (a college for jazz music studies).
Since returning to Canada, Kim has introduced herself to Calgary audience by performing regularly, in both jazz and contemporary music, since 2010. The Kim Szabo Trio can be heard performing regularly at Alvin’s Jazz Club, on the Ironwood Stage with the Summit Big Band, at Hotel Blackfoot with her quartet, at Kensington Legion with retro-inspired group, The Reminders, performing regularly with Nebula Jazz organization, and most recently with Lush Vocal Jazz, a 4-member vocal group which has headlined JazzYYC’s International Jazz Days Festival, for which she also arranges.