Heather Tarazi is an up and coming jazz fusion artist who plans to modernize jazz and dispel the myth of jazz being "elevator music." 

 

     She was raised in Israel and moved to Brooklyn when she was 8 years old. Since childhood, Heather was an entertainer. She put on shows in front of her family where she would dance, sing, and do voice impressions of characters from TV shows and movies. 

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     Heather's family has a history of music. Her grandfather, Joe Merlis, was in a doo wop band called The Songspinners during the late 50's. Her grandparent's love for jazz and swing shaped her own musical style. She grew up listening to Sade, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, and Fiona Apple. 

 

     Her contemporary influences include Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Moses Sumney, H.E.R., and Sabrina Claudio.

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     When Heather turned 16, her heart was set on singing and songwriting. She was coached by Tammy Scheffer and performed at the Jalopy Theater for a recital Tammy arranged.

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     In her junior and senior years at Edward R. Murrow High School, she performed with the Gospel Chorus at several events, including a Brooklyn Philharmonic holiday concert and The Empire State Plaza Concourse.

 

     Since then she has collaborated with two Brooklyn-based rappers, Keith Rob and Eyon Dreams. Heather opened at the Highline Ballroom for Taryn Manning from Orange is the New Black. She is currently developing her very first album, Heather Tarazi.