Photo by Bob Reiss

Lanah Koelle is a jazz vocalist known for her swinging sensibility, warm stage presence, and eclectic song selections. A regular performer at Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill, she has appeared at venues around the DC metro area since 2013. While her voice evokes the timbre of Peggy Lee and Kay Starr, it’s a sound all her own. Lanah’s sets frequently bring together her love of jazz standards, Vegas swinger tunes, and 60s rock and pop, with influences from Carmen McRae to Keely Smith to the Doors. 

Lanah’s album Straight Up Sassafras (2018) offers interpretations of Cole Porter, Fats Waller, and more. Recorded at Backstreet Studios, the album features musicians Wayne Wilentz, David Jernigan, and Keith Butler, Jr. Listen on any online music platform.

Lanah’s introduction to performing began at Open Space Arts, a community theater in Reisterstown, MD. She contributed to more than 30 productions – on stage as an actor or puppeteer, and off stage as a voice actor, stage manager, or director. Her background in theater and interest in Ancient Studies led to her work as executive producer for Reading Greek Tragedy Online (RGTO), a partnership between Out of Chaos Theatre and Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies. RGTO was a live stream series that began during the Covid-19 pandemic; with more than 45 episodes, it features the work of over 125 actors and academics from around the world.

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