vocals

Right after completing her studies at the Howard University College of Fine Arts (Washington D.C.) Carole was engaged to Switzerland and undertook tourneys to Berlin (Theater des Westens), Karlsruhe, Kaiserslautern, Cologne, Paris, Graz, Linz and Vienna. She played leading roles in several musicals as in Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate" (Kate), in A.L.Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Mary Magdalene), Mitch Leigh's "Der Mann von LaMancha" (Aldonza) or in Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble In Thahiti" and "West Side Story" (Anita) - Seeing her Mr Bernstein raved: "My God, you are fabulous."  Carole appeared in theatre pieces as well as with classical and contemporary music, Jazz, Gospel and Blues in radio and television. On stage with artists from Harry Neuwirth till José Carreras.

After years of touring Carole settled in Vienna. Besides teaching she has sung at the Volksoper, in the Karajan Center, the Wiener Musikverein and the Linzer Brucknerhaus. In Vienna she also performed two contemporary pieces composed by Nancy van de Vate "Cocaine Lil" and "Venal Vera". In 2000 she choreographed, staged and played the part of "Nell" in "Ain’t Misbehavin -The Fat's Waller Musical".  At the Wiener Kammer Oper she performed the role again (under the direction of Giorgio Madia), as well as the role of Julia in the European premiere of the A Cappella Musical "Avenue X" in 2005.

In 2006 Carole performed on her own piece "Tribute To A Blue Lady" on the remarkable and all-too-brief life of Billie Holiday in Vienna´s English Theatre  and her program "Ladies You´re On" in Birdland and Jazzland. 2007 and 2008 Carole not just started to do some recording at the studio but also started again to travel at least a little bit. The result 'till now were some fine concerts in Germany, Italy, Istanbul, Praha, Warzawa, Paris and in Canada.

As jazz vocalist first appeared with Erich Kleinschuster, adored and loved to performe with the wonderful Fritz Pauer up to present performances with the Erwin Schmid - or Markus Gaudriot Trio.

2014 Carole embarked on a journey. A journey to the roots of jazz and the memorable voices of the "Big Sisters": Alberta Hunter, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone. In his film FOR MY SISTERS, Stephanus Domanig accompanied Carole on an emotional musical search for places, venues and people that are inextricably linked with the life story of the three jazz singers. These voices of jazz, marked by the resistance against racism and suppression, were brilliant at exposing injustices without actually stating them.

Carole Alston has been teaching at HMTM's Jazz Institute since 2021.

* Foto: Clemens Oppolzer