In 1988 Estelle Kokot joined jazz fusion band Rush Hour and their album ‘The Perfect Way’ went on to top the charts.
"Nothing short of stunning” Bongani Hlatshwayo, South Africa
Estelle has sung at 5 Big band Jazz Galas at Pretoria’s State Theatre and presented her solo shows at the Windybrow and Grahamstown Arts Festivals.
Estelle moved to London in the mid 1990’s and soon established herself on the live scene performing at Pizza Express and The Vortex Jazz Clubs, Cambridge Modern Jazz Cub and Band on the Wall in Manchester. She has also performed at the Cork, London, and Soho Jazz festivals, the Dusseldorf Jazz Rally and clubs and theatres in Switzerland and Germany.
Estelle released two studio albums ‘Alternative Therapy’ (1999) and ‘Information’ (2006) with London based line-ups that include Mick Hutton, Alan Skidmore, Tristan Powell, Rod Youngs, Yaron Stavi and Gene Calderazzo
"Standards and originals perfectly compatible side by side, Kokot is an excellent arranger of her own and other peoples’ material" John Fordham, The Guardian, London
‘Where Is the Rainbow’ from her SAMA nominated album ‘Information’ (2007) featured on a popular South African TV series ‘A Place Called Home’ and South African Strictly Come Dancing winner, actor/singer Emmanuel Castis recorded one of her tracks ‘I Don’t Know You Anymore’ on his CD ‘South of Nowhere’ (2008).