"She works her way into her listeners' hearts, and her emotional range is wide. She is in tune with herself and her material and is a joy to hear." The New York Times Rondi Charleston is sparking the imaginations and stealing the hearts of critics and audiences around the country. "That rare combination of native talent and keen perception has made Rondi Charleston a commanding vocal stylist and a spellbinding storyteller," writes Grammy Award-winning journalist Bob Blumenthal. "Hers is an immense gift… the jazz equivalent of a gin and tonic: tart, cool, clear and effervescent, with a deliciously subtle kick," declares JazzTimes. But the real reason for her success is simple. Rondi is a captivating communicator who makes a heart-to-heart connection with her audiences. She embraces them with a warm wide smile, looks them straight in the eye and they're hooked by her natural honesty, charm and true sophistication. "There is nothing more important to me than connecting with the audience," says Rondi. "That is ultimately why I sing." She also chooses material wisely. Says Blumenthal, "Her interpretations of popular hits are prime examples of her taste and her expressive depth in action. Charleston's originals reveal that she can write songs where both message and melody flow seamlessly. She displays a world view that can only be described as ageless." Already, Charleston is being compared to singers in the great tradition of jazz. Says JazzTimes, "Not since Cassandra Wilson have I heard as enchanting a version of I'm Old Fashioned. Her flawless enunciation recalls Lena Horne, and there's an elegant depth to her phrasing that mirrors Ann Hampton Callaway." Actress and fan, Joanne Woodward agrees, "It's a marvelous album - marvelous voice work, marvelous lyrics, It's altogether great!" Woody Allen also exclaims, "I'm a fan!" Rondi's sold-out return engagement at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival is testimony to her ability to engage audiences. "She possesses the spontaneous instincts that mark all true jazz singers, and she finds joy in taking risks," says Blumenthal. Bookings in venues around the country have included the Iridium, Jazz Improv Convention and Festival, and a multi-night run at Minneapolis' famed Dakota Jazz Club where headlines in the Star Tribune read, "Rondi Charleston has reinvented herself from award-winning journalist to acclaimed jazz singer." Indeed, Rondi's journey did include a surprise mid-career stint as an investigative reporter for Diane Sawyer on Primetime Live, for which she won both Emmy and Peabody Awards. But then, her life story could be a movie in itself. Rondi began her musical studies at the age of 6. Both her parents sing. Her mother teaches voice, and Dad is a classical music radio announcer. Growing up in the Hyde Park area while her father attended the University of Chicago, she was also exposed to that city's wealth of music and, as she grew older, took the opportunity to "worship at the feet" of Carmen McRae when her idol appeared at Ratso's and other local clubs. By age 15, Charleston was singing professionally at a folk club called Somebody Else's Troubles, but other youthful interests led to a career in theater. Her considerable poise, presence and determination landed her in Juilliard's Drama Department at age 16 after an audition with the legendary John Houseman. By 18, she was accepted into Juilliard's Voice Department, graduating with a BM and MM in music, immediately finding work in the opera world. Says Rondi, "the interplay between actors is very much like the interplay between jazz musicians - spontaneous and immediate." Feeling hemmed in by repertoire, a youthful need to expand her horizons, and hungry for the breadth of a more liberal arts education, she sought to further discover the world around her and her place in it. Longing to be a cultural reporter for CBS Sunday Morning, she enrolled in the Master's program at the NYU School of Journalism on a fellowship. While on a class assignment, she broke a major cover-up story of a Metro North train crash in which an engineer was wrongly blamed and killed. The story ran in The New York Times and The Daily News, and before Rondi even graduated, she was hired by ABC News. Virtually overnight, she became an investigative reporter for Primetime Live, working with Diane Sawyer for the next six years. "Don't ask me how I found the time, but I kept singing. One night in 1996 at a gig in the Village, Diane came to see me. After the set, she said 'Rondi, I came because I like you, and I like working with you, but you never told me you were really good. You could do this.'" For Rondi, the search for the truth and the core of the story are paramount, whether delving into an investigative report or the lyric of a song. "I think of it as deep-sea diving. My job is to dive down deep and bring back that shining pearl to share with everyone. What drives me is my passion to live and breathe honesty, truth and integrity into every song and story. That's what I hope resonates through me to my audience." Her story took another turn in 1997 when daughter Emma was born. While raising Emma, Rondi never strayed far from her continuing evolution as a musician. Her first two original tunes, Telescope and Ancient Steps, both inspired by motherhood, have become audience favorites. Now back to music full time, Rondi feels, "It's like coming home, but with vast, invaluable life experience peppered with some wisdom, the treasure trove from which I draw my inspiration. I feel grateful and extremely fortunate." "My hope is that people listen to my recordings and experience our performances as an opportunity to suspend time and space and just relax. If they feel joyful, lighter and as if they've had a mini-vacation from the staggering demands of everyday life, then I've given back some of the energy they've given me and, hopefully, the notion that it's never too late to reinvent yourself, discover your passion and live your dreams." REVIEWS THE NEW YORK TIMES "She works her way into her listeners' hearts, and her emotional range is wide. She is in tune with herself and her material and is a joy to hear." VILLAGE VOICE "Her phrasing stacks up against the best of them." JAZZTIMES "Hers is an immense gift. She is the jazz equivalent of a gin and tonic; tart, cool, clear and effervescent, with a deliciously subtle kick. Not since Cassandra Wilson have I heard as enchanting a rendition of "I'm Old Fashioned." Her flawless enunciation recalls Lena Horne, and there's an elegant depth to her phrasing. But the greatest highlight is the original "Telescope." JAZZIZ "The CD/DVD double disc "In My Life" shows she can deliver, in both audio and video formats." (Featured in 2007 JAZZIZ "Today's Beautiful Voices" CD.) ALL ABOUT JAZZ "Close to perfect, shifting from one mood to another…and remarkably poised in projecting the drama and fun of the lyrics." IN TUNE MAGAZINE "A Superstar of the future!" BACK STAGE "One of those new discoveries that critics love...a new voice full of promise."