While McKenzie graduated in musical composition in her middle thirties, she soon became one of the outstanding singer of her age group. Michael Bublé also recognised her gifts, inviting her to perform as backing vocalist when he toured his Call Me Irresponsible album. She then released her debut album in 2011, which featured pop, blues and jazz classics alongside her own compositions. Chris Botti took note, and invited McKenzie and her team to be his live tour band. Her next album saw her fame move beyond the borders of Australia, helped by a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She decided to remain in America, where the world opened up for her and she performed at all of the biggest festivals in Europe. As she spent time away from her family and home, she began some ever-deeper soul searching, pondering the merits of continuing her career as a singer when she missed her love ones so much in the meantime. Her response came in the 2019 Secrets of My Heart, which was just as much an album of European tastes as it is undeniably American, being an out-and-out jazz record. There is a notable nod to George Gerhwin, though many of the songs relate to the period when McKenzie had the chance to sit at the piano beside Michel Legrand. The European flavor of the evening will be enhanced by the presence of Gábor Bolla, who hails from Hungary.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest