Dancing in Darkness
“Laura Karst is a top-notch jazz singer based in the San Francisco Bay Area who has a haunting voice and an adventurous spirit." – L.A. Jazz Scene, August 2022
“Really great taste, a point of view, and a lot of substance." – Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices, August 2025
“A really terrific singer." – WMNR Fine Arts Radio, February 2024
"An artist with a wealth of talent...[and] poetic pipes." – Take Effect Reviews, February 2023
“A velvet-smooth voice and a breezy delivery.” – Bay Area News Group, June 2022
"Nice palate of colors for the canvas." – Jazz Weekly, March 2023
Laura released her second album of solo jazz vocals, Dancing in Darkness, in 2022.
The album comprises songs by an international array of jazz composers and a variety of jazz styles: swing, bebop, ballads, Latin, modern, and fusion, occasionally treating listeners to Laura's impeccably-pronounced French and Portuguese singing.
Show in San Francisco at The Lost Church, July 2025. (photo: Doug Peterson)
Show in San Francisco with the Joyce Todd McBride Trio at The Lost Church, July 2025. (photo: Doug Peterson)
Tabard Theatre, San Jose 2022 (photo: Doug Peterson)
Spotlight performance at Western Michigan University's New York Voices vocal jazz camp - July 2025
Tabard Theatre, San Jose 2022 (photo: Doug Peterson)
Monterey Jazz Festival - April 2nd, 2017 "Next Generation" national finals with JAZZ-ology - © Susan Harding-Palmore
Angelicas Main Stage LK Jazz Quartet Dinner Show - September 12, 2015
At Bill Hare Productions, circa 2019. Photo: Ninoangelo Lastimosa
Jazz Vocal Gala with JAZZ-ology Knox Center for the Performing Arts, May 2018 (photo D. Peterson)
Club Bonafide, Manhattan NY with JAZZ-ology, April 2nd, 2018 (photo: D. Peterson)
La Strada, San Pablo CA May 2018 (photo: D. Peterson)
Laura Karst Quintet Café Pink House jazz club, Saratoga CA 4/23/16
Monterey Jazz Festival - April 2017 "Next Generation" national finals with JAZZ-ology
Jazz Vocal Gala - May 19, 2017 JAZZ-ology at the Knox Center for the Performing Arts
Hilo Bay Café - January 2017 Laura's Hawai'i debut with the Randy Skaggs Quartet - photo: Leslie Karst
La Tartine Crest, France - August 4th, 2016
Autour de Midi...et Minuit Paris, France - July 29th, 2016
Autour de Midi Paris, France - July 29th, 2016
Péniche le Marcounet Paris, France - July 27th, 2016
Laura with JAZZ-ology Knox Center for the Performing Arts - May 2016
JAZZ-ology 2014-15 DownBeat Magazine Outstanding Performance award winners
Dinner show 2013
Angelica's Poster Laura Sings a Dinner Show in the Bell Theatre
Dinner Show Angelica's 2013
Dinner show at Angelica's 2013
Angelica's Bell Theatre, June 2012 Laura sings a dinner show
Angelica's Bell Theatre, June 7th, 2012 Laura sings a dinner show - photo D. Peterson
Angelicas, Redwood City Dinner Show in Bell Theatre
Fairmont San José's Lobby Lounge CD release concert - photo Jane Garrino
Fairmont San José Lobby Lounge CD Release Concert
Little Did I Dream CD cover photo by Laura Karst
CD tray photo by Jane Garrino
CD back cover by Jane Garrino
Café Universel, Paris July 2012
Octavia Lounge Jazz Club, San Francisco Photo: Leslie Karst
Jazz Club de Grenoble (France) with JAZZ-ology, 2019 - photo by Bernard Genevois