Rising star vocalist Emily Masser returns with new album and UK tour dates
Kevin Whitlock
Friday, January 17, 2025
Singer and saxophonist Emily Masser, touted as one of UK's brightest new jazz talents, has a new album entitled Songs With My Father, out on 31 January, with a UK tour in support through February and into March
Singer and saxophonist Emily Masser, touted as one of UK's brightest new jazz talents, has a new album entitled Songs With My Father, out on 31 January.
Songs With My Father features a mix of modern twists on jazz standards and explores a range of moods: from the upbeat to the reflective. Dedicated to Masser’s late mother, featuring her father Dean Masser on saxophone and an all-star rhythm section: in-demand Hungarian pianist Matyas Gayer (Eddie Henderson, Scott Hamilton), bassist James Owston (Xhosa Cole, Greg Abate), and drummer Steve Brown (Scott Hamilton, Barry Harris). Released on Masser's own label, it was recorded at Steinway Recordings by Spencer Cozens last year.
While still a student at The Guildhall School Of Music And Drama, the 20-year-old Masser’s burgeoning talent has already attracted attention from jazz luminaries such as Claire Martin and Liane Carroll, who have both praised Emily for her original approach to interpretation, making timeless classics sound "newly minted" and "excitingly different". Her contribution to the Clark Tracey Quintet’s album Introducing Emily Masser (released in March 2024) further highlighted Emily’s musical prowess, gaining further accolades.
Jazzwise writer, the eminent broadcaster Alyn Shipton says of the new album: “Emily Masser was my pick for a “Taking Off” feature in Jazzwise in early 2024. This album shows exactly why - displaying the range of her very individual talent from the heart-rendingly beautiful 'I’ll Be Seeing You' to the mischievous evocation of childhood in 'Dat Dere', not to mention the sheer fun of 'Old Devil Moon'. The father-daughter empathy is evident throughout, particularly on 'Song For My Mother', but there’s also splendid support, from the romping to the sensitive, by the rhythm team of Gayer, Owston and Brown.”
Masser and her group will be supporting the album's release with a UK tour. Dates include: 1 February – Southport Jazz Festival (Album Launch), The Grand, Southport; 2 Feb – Norwich Jazz Club; 12 Feb Head Of Steam, Huddersfield; 19 Feb – 606 Club, Chelsea; 20 Feb – Chesterfield Jazz Club; 22 Feb – Peggy’s Skylight, Nottingham; 25 Feb Kingston Upon Hull; 26 Feb – Scarborough Jazz; 28 Feb – Wakefield Jazz Club; 3 March – Pizza Express (Soho), London; 6 Mar – Alsager Golf & Country Club, Stoke on Trent; and 7 Mar Bodle Street Green, Hailsham.
For more info visit emilymasser.co.uk
