Tulivu-Donna Lynn Cumberbatch, daughter of Harold Cumberbatch (a baritone saxophone player), is a jazz singer[1] from Brooklyn. Her African name “Tulivu“ translates from Swahili loosely to “beautiful,“ and her middle name, “Donna Lynn“ is derived from “Donna Lee,“ the jazz piece made popular by Charlie Parker.
Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch Quartet (2013)
As a child, Cumberbatch participated in church choir and the All City High School Chorus, then studied at Herbert H. Lehman College. After training, she began her solo career, influenced by such artists as Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nancy Wilson. She joined “The Magnificent Trio,“ which consisted of Mark Johnson, Donald Smith, and Rachiim Ausar-Sahu.
In live performances, when not performing with her trio, Cumberbatch has sung with Hannibal Peterson, Kimati Dinizulu and the Kotoko Society, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Diedre Murray, the Kronos Quartet, Akyenee Baako and Drumsong Produc