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I sang in local Festivals, competitions and concerts, then gradually progressed to having lead roles in various operettas
at Kent university, where I was studying English and American Literature - and after in local operatic groups. I was variously
- Helene in 'La Belle Helene' ... Dido.. Nella in 'Gianni Schicci' ... Iolanthe ... and a chorus member in some of Bromley
Operatic Society's
productions. All great fun and a complete contrast to playing piano for the school band productions of 'Dracula Spectacular'
and others.. while I taught English.
My love of poetry and language meant I gradually developed my passion for the 20th century songwriters: the English composers
- Gerald Finzi, Frank Bridge, Michael Head, Holst, John Ireland, Moeran - the wonderful Madeleine Dring, the French song repertoire
of Debussy, Faure, Satie, Poulenc and Ravel... and the Americans - Charles Ives and Samuel Barber. Much of this repertoire
was discovered in singing workshops in Morley and Goldsmiths Colleges with Rita Godfry and Geraldine Frank - and at summer
schools such as Canford and Bushey, with tutors like John Huw Davies and Robin Bowman.
This obsession with lyrics and experience outside the traditional college one, meant I was discovering an unusual range
of songs and music. Working as an English teacher and by this time mother to two children: Robert and Claire, I continued
to perform at festivals, concerts and sing composers' music ... anything contemporary and different.
Composer and performer Betty Roe's music was a turning point, as she dealt with classical as well as humerous and quirky
character songs. Her setting of Langston Hughes' poem 'Madam and the Minister' for double bass and voice - was a revelation,
especially as my son, Robert, was now a mini bass player with the indefatigable Caroline Emery. So I sang a quickly developing
repertoire for bass and voice with different groups of young bass students in Sweden, the Menuhin School and the Purcell Room...
Wavendon Jazz Summer school in 1992 was a formative experience. I just KNEW that this was the musical area where I could
grow and develop. The tutors were passionate about their teaching and their playing was inspiring. I started to recognise
the quality of individual vocal instruments - Keely Smith, Ella, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, the haunting Shirley Horn...
and discovered the wonderful Norma Winstone and the music of Kenny Wheeler. So I went to workshops with teachers like Anton
Brown, Lee Gibson, Anita Wardell, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan and many others. eventually started doing gigs and singing with
the Mid Herts Rehearsal and Bedford Contemporary Big Bands.
Through workshops with the inspiring Canadian trombonist and composer, Hugh Fraser, I met and worked with Keith Copeland,
Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone in N Ireland and then at the Banff Arts Centre in Canada. Tutors there included Don Thompson,
Kenny Werner, Ray Drummond and Dave Liebmann. We performed Wheeler's 'Sweet Sister Suite'. It was a joy to sing
as part of the band.
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| Photo: Christina Jansen |
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| Make-up: Debbie Gould |
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In 1998 I recorded my first quintet album 'People We Once Knew' with the superb rhythm section of: Nick
Weldon, Jeff Clyne and Trevor Tomkins - and the amazing Iain Dixon on saxes. We got great reviews, regular air-play, gigs
around the country and at four Festivals.
My second album 'Your Time' was released in 2004, with the same wonderful rhythm section and this time
the incredible Russell van den Berg was on saxes with his haunting soprano sound. Nick Weldon has been arranger
and band leader on both albums. Again, good reviews and gigs around the UK - including the Cork International Jazz Festival
in 2005. The band have been gigging regularly together since.
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