About Pete
St. Louis native Pete Ayres performs in a wide range of styles with his musical roots firmly based in jazz. Ayres’ voice ranges from smooth and airy to raw and soulful, while his songwriting and performances cover a mix of jazz, pop, soul and R&B. Heavily influenced by jazz artists like Jamie Cullum, Kurt Elling and Nat King Cole, Ayres has developed a distinct singing/songwriting style, able to smoothly move from a ballad like “Georgia On My Mind” to a 90’s pop hit like “Hand in My Pocket”
A New York City based musician, Ayres began with a BA in Vocal Jazz Performance from Webster University in St. Louis, MO and has since performed at major music venues and festivals along the East coast, West coast and Midwest, including Birdland Jazz Club, The Blue Note (NYC), Brooklyn Bowl, Bowery Ballroom, Hippodrome Theater, Point Fest (STL) and featured as an artist for the Jazz on the lawn series in Atlanta GA. Pete has performed alongside pop artists like Gavin DeGraw, Mat Kearney and the Plain White T’s. He has also performed with The Young New Yorkers’ Chorus on the popular NPR show “Radiolab” and at one of the most renowned venues in the world, Carnegie Hall.
Ayres’ latest release “Hand in My Pocket” is now available on all streaming platforms as well as for purchase.
Live at Birdland Theater NYC
“You know how to swing this music! ”
“Some of the coolest music you’ll ever hear. When I listen to Pete I think of vocalist like Bobby Caldwell, Michael McDonald”