About Atla…
Atla DeChamplain is a jazz vocalist, lyricist, and educator known for her compelling sound and sincere interpretations of jazz standards. A Connecticut native, she studied at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music and earned her Master’s degree from the University of Toledo, where she was mentored by the legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks. Specializing in vocalese—the art of setting lyrics to instrumental jazz solos—Atla is recognized for her original lyrics, expressive phrasing, vocal control, and authenticity on stage.
Her musical voice is a blend of American idioms, drawing from jazz, blues, gospel, and R&B. She credits her artistic development to the influence of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Jon Hendricks, Louis Armstrong, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Mel Tormé, Bobby McFerrin, José Feliciano, and Nat King Cole, as well as the lyrical legacies of Iola Brubeck, Billy Strayhorn, Burt Bacharach, and Fred Rogers. Atla has performed with many of her musical heroes, including Jon Hendricks, Kurt Elling, Lawrence Hobgood, José Feliciano, Paul Keller, and Steve Davis. Atla acknowledges the privilege to follow such luminary artists in the traditions of Black American music.
Alongside her husband, jazz pianist Matt DeChamplain, Atla co-leads a band that reimagines the Great American Songbook and presents original compositions. Together, they have appeared at renowned venues and festivals across the country, including Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the Louis Armstrong House Museum (NYC), the Bop Stop (Cleveland), the Provincetown Jazz Festival (Cape Cod), Steinway Gallery (Detroit), the Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (CT), and the American Stage Theatre Company (FL), among others. In 2015, Atla released her debut album Pause, which featured guest performance by Jon Hendricks. Her additional recording credits include work with Emmett Goods, Earl MacDonald, Norman Johnson, Jeff Fuller, Grayson Hugh, Jason Anick, and others.
A devoted educator, Atla serves as Associate Professor in Amplified Voice at the University of Rhode Island, where she teaches jazz and gospel music. She also teaches for the Yale University Jazz Collective. Previously Atla has held adjunct teaching positions at the Hartt School of Music, Western Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Capital Community College. She is a frequent clinician and advocate for inclusive, student-centered jazz education, and she authors a blog for aspiring jazz vocalists. Currently, Atla is working on a book about learning, writing, and performing vocalese.
Atla & Matt 