For those unaware, multi-instrumentalist, educator and composer Erica von Kleist began her career as a saxophonist and flautist in the New York jazz scene. A native of Connecticut, Erica moved to the city to study at the renowned Juilliard School and in 2004 earned the first bachelor’s degree in jazz in the school’s history.

After graduation, Erica’s next ten years were met with performances, tours and several recordings with various artists including the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Chris Potter, Sean Jones, Rufus Reid, The Addams Family on Broadway among others.

During her ten-year stint living in Whitefish, MT, Erica began several business endeavors including a nonprofit organization that brought live music to nursing homes and care facilities and a booking agency that provided music for private events and weddings. She also paired up with some talented local filmmakers and writers and in 2020 co-produced an award-winning musical comedy film Your Musical is Cancelled. The Musical!

Having sparked her love of comedy, Erica is now back in NYC developing her work as a one-woman jazz comedy writer and performer. A recipient of the Creative Residency Grant from the South Arts foundation, Erica is bringing her NYC band to Montana in 2026 for a performance and jazz comedy workshop.

And in addition to all that, Erica will be releasing her next album “Picc Pocket” in April 2026, and which features Erica on piccolo.

1. We Know How to Picc ’Em
2. Let Me Picc Your Brain
3. Bone 2 Picc
4. Picc & Choose
5. Picc Up Lines
6. Picc a Peck

Having been honored with two ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards, amongst others, her brand new recording opens on the veritably skedaddling notes of We Know How to Picc ’Em and the rhythmical Let Me Picc Your Brain and then we are brought forth the warmly seducing Bone 2 Picc, the emotively translucent Picc & Choose, the set rounding out on the fervently impassioned Picc Up Lines, coming to a close on the atmospherically-hued, jaunty at times and yet fully encompassing, delightful melodies within Picc a Peck.

www.ericavonkleist.com