BRENNA WHITAKER is a powerhouse jazz vocalist whose soulful, vintage-meets-modern sound has wowed legends like Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Bublé. With her Little Big Band, she’s toured the world and continues to light up stages from Los Angeles to beyond.
Her new album REVERIE is available AUGUST 14th.
BRENNA HAPPENINGS
Hope everyone has had a beautiful summer thus far… Not gonna lie, I’m excited for fall… apple cider smells, trees changing, pumpkins in the yard, the fresh smell of Scotch tape, fresh haircuts, new school supplies, and fun new shows to share with live audiences…
Wanted to just say “Haay” and give you a little update on what’s been going on with me.
As you might have noticed, I’ve had a stream of new music coming out every month, along with some fun shows I’ve been doing. I have been working in Nashville with an incredible crew of humans at Green Hill/Sun Records, a subsidiary of the publishing company, Primary Wave. We started with a collection of covers for Enraptured, and now I’m about to release Reverie on August 14th. I have a full Christmas album, Simply Christmas, coming out at the end of October (I’m very excited about having an original song I wrote, “The Simple Things,” on it for the holidays!), and in early 2027, I have Soulful Echoes coming out.
I’m beyond thrilled to be back in the studio (where I feel so at home) after a long pause of reflection and becoming a mom to my treasures, Rygar and Walden.
This project started by meeting Blake Davis nine years ago at my long-time residency at Vibrato Jazz Club in Bel Air through two wonderful humans and dancers, Julie Kay Stallcup and Darrell Stallcup. At the time, I had just had a baby and was still promoting my last album with Verve Records.
Fast forward a few years and a global pandemic. Like most musicians, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get back out there. Blake reached out and asked if I’d be interested in doing a project, and it was perfect timing. As someone who has never neatly fit into a single genre, but who loves entertaining, storytelling, and using my voice both in the studio and on stage, they understood exactly how to help me get back out there.
Blake recommended that I work with Gordon Mote, and the rest is history. Gordon and I turned out to be a perfect team when it came to interpreting music together. It has been an enormous gift to know and work with these incredible people.
The process behind this album was refreshingly simple. I flew into Nashville, Gordon put together some of the best session musicians in the world, and we essentially treated it like a club date. There were no rehearsals and no elaborate arrangements. Gordon and I would talk about the feel and emotional direction of a song, and then he’d begin an introduction that would lead us toward a beginning, middle, and end—a story within each performance.
The first day was spent locking in the band. The second day was spent cutting vocals. We recorded Reverie in just two days.
I’m extremely grateful for the support and love you’ve given me over what has now turned into more than 20 years as a performer… I can’t find the words to say how lucky I feel, so I hope you can hear, through my soul and voice in these interpretations, just how much I care about the human experience…
We are not alone with music.
See you at a show!!!!!
Love,
Brenna
Born in Kansas City, Brenna Whitaker grew up in historic homes that her parents renovated and restored—some of them haunted—sparking a lifelong love of history, storytelling, and imagination. By age eleven, she was already performing in professional regional theater, laying the foundation for the captivating stage presence she is known for today.
After moving to Los Angeles, Brenna quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s live music scene. Renowned for her emotionally rich interpretations and deep reverence for timeless songs, she emerged as a central figure in the resurgence of Los Angeles’s “jazz nights”. Her larger-than-life stage presence and unmistakable voice have attracted an extraordinary range of admirers and collaborators. Legends including Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, and Gene Simmons have participated in her performances, while contemporary artists such as Justin Bieber, John Mayer, Derek Hough, and Michael Bublé have joined her on stage—all drawn together in celebration of great songs, showmanship, and the musicianship of a good old-fashioned show.
Brenna’s debut album was produced by legendary producer David Foster. Her music has been featured on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. She contributed “It’s Not Easy Being Green” to Universal Records’ We Love Disney album and has toured with Andrea Bocelli and Michael McDonald. A passionate advocate for dance and live performance, she regularly collaborates with the Los Angeles Jazz Dance Company.
In 2026, Brenna will release two new albums—Reverie and Simply Christmas—on Green Hill Music (Sun Label Group / Primary Wave Music). Produced by acclaimed pianist Gordon Mote, the recordings further showcase her cinematic artistry, emotional depth, and distinctive voice.
The Brenna Whitaker Little Big Band performs at exclusive private events and concert venues worldwide and holds a monthly residency at Herb Alpert’s iconic Vibrato Grill Jazz in Bel Air.
“One of the finest singers of our generation.” - Michael Bublé
“The most soulful white girl I’ve ever heard.” - David Foster
“She’s got the swing, she’s got the sass, but most importantly, she’s got the PIPES! This little lady absolutely demands your ears, and I can’t wait for all-a-y’all to hear exactly what I’m talkin’ about.” - Quincy Jones
“Brenna Whitaker is the real deal. In a world full of empty singers, with no sense or knowledge of ‘roots’… comes a voice & personality that carries the torch of Ella, Dinah Washington & the greats. The perfect soulful combination of yesterday & today. A class act.” - Gene Simmons
New album REVERIE is available AUGUST 14th.
Reverie showcases the extraordinary voice of Brenna Whitaker in a stunning collection of timeless favorites reimagined with heart, elegance, and soul. Produced by Gordon Mote, the album is bookended by a beautiful rendition of “Coming Around Again” and features fresh takes on classics like “Purple Rain”, “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, and “Sunny”. Reverie honors beloved originals while allowing Brenna’s artistry to make each song uniquely her own.
New album ENRAPTURED available now.
The stunning new 7-song album from LA native Brenna Whitaker — showcases one of today’s greatest vocalists you may not know yet but need to. A favorite of Hollywood’s elite, Brenna brings elegance and power to classics like Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does It Better,” Rita Coolidge’s “We’re All Alone,” and “Pure Imagination.” A must-listen collection for every true music lover.
