Bluebirds of Paradise is comprised of singer/songwriters Ari Hest and Chrissi Poland. Each a commercially successful performer on their own, (Ari is 2017 Grammy Nominee with Judy Collins), together they create a scintillating duo, an infusion of jazz and indie-folk steeped in Brazilian/world overtones. Their first EP, "In A Night" was produced by the legendary Will Lee and was released to critical acclaim in 2015.
Ari Hest
Currently a 2017 Grammy nominee for "Best Folk Album" with the legendary Judy Collins for their work on "Silver Skies Blue", Ari Hest, has been earning accolades as a singer/songwriter since he began his career over fifteen years ago. As a young musician, he was influenced by the music of The Beatles, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, and the Dave Matthews Band. During his career, he has been privileged to share the stage with "a slew of incredible musicians", record eight solo albums and three EPs,as well as put out his song-of-the-week project, "52" (2008). Additionally, he has been in three bands that have recorded CDs, and recently has been performing as part of the duo "Bluebirds of Paradise" with singer/songwriter Chrissi Poland. This creative collaboration, an infusion of jazz and indie-folk steeped in Brazilian/world overtones, was further cemented when the couple officially tied the knot in 2015.
Ari's music is sometimes heard on television or film scores such as The Lincoln Lawyer, Private Practice, Army Wives and One Tree Hill, to name a few. Ari is on the road a lot, with over 100 tour dates each year. He feels extremely fortunate to be able to sing and play music for a living -- "it's good for my soul and I love knowing that what I create has a real impact on people."
Chrissi Poland
Enchanting vocalist and songwriter Chrissi Poland weaves together the sounds of soul, jazz and pop, creating her unique and captivating tone, compelling people to wonder how "that voice comes from that little body." Her songwriting embodies a lyrical depth and melodic richness that draws audiences of all kinds in with ease.
Born and raised in southern Massachusetts, Chrissi started out playing bars and clubs in and around Boston, then soon after moved to New York City and began playing shows in the West Village underground scene. She quickly made a name for herself in New York, and within a few years began touring the world with her own work as well as with other artists.
As a multi-instrumentalist and in-demand vocalist, Chrissi has worked and performed with an array of artists, jazz greats, and icons including Nile Rodgers, Sting, Bette Midler, Macy Gray, Moby, Scissor Sisters, The Edge, Will Lee, Dave Weckl, Kylie Minogue, Elvis Costello, Pat Benatar, Tower of Power, Blood, Sweat, & Tears, Clint Black and legendary Stax "Soul Man" Sam Moore (formerly of Sam & Dave). Her most recent EP, Reckless Ones, received acclaim for its versatility and performances.
