Katherine Penfold - Keep Christmas With You (2017)

Vancouver, British Columbia-based singer/songwriter Katherine Penfold is an emotive performer known for her breezy jazz and blues-influenced pop sound. Born in Nova Scotia and raised in Manitoba, Penfold grew up listening to a steady diet of Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler, as well as the Celtic folk of artists like Natalie MacMaster and the Rankin Family. Around age 14 she began singing and playing piano, performing in local coffeehouses around Manitoba. After high school, she honed her skills studying jazz at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba. Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists including Joss Stone, Norah Jones, and Amy Winehouse, she decided to focus on a pop career. In 2008, she won the Project Cool Songwriters Award, of which the proceeds helped fund the recording of her debut album, 2009's Journals. That same year, she delivered the concert album Katherine Penfold Live at the Park. She returned in 2013 with her sophomore studio effort, Love, featuring the singles "Lullabies" and "Love Too." In 2017, Penfold released the holiday-themed album Keep Christmas with You. ~ Matt Collar.