Jazz breaking news: Claire Martin And Ian Shaw Prepare For Release of New Albums
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Two of the UK’s leading jazz singers are preparing for the release of new albums next month.
Claire Martin, just named Best Vocalist at the British Jazz Awards, has teamed up with long standing live collaborator pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett on a new album entitled Witchcraft set for release on 7 March. Also marking Bennett’s 75th birthday, the album celebrates the music of legendary film and Broadway composer Cy Coleman whose best known songs include ‘Witchcraft’, ‘Hey Big Spender’ and countless others. The album is the follow-up to the duo’s 2005 release When Lights Are Low and will be performed at both the Wigmore Hall and Elgar Room in London.
Meanwhile Ian Shaw also returns to the fray in March with a new album recorded at Abbey Road inspired by pioneering UK bassist Peter Ind and what the singer refers to as “his big fat bass sound.” Mixing standards such as Cole Porter’s ‘Get Out of Town’, Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Day Dream’ and Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘I Get Along Without You Very Well’ with more contemporary pieces from Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson and Gerry Rafferty, who sadly died in January, the album showcases Shaw’s unique vocal talents in a robust ensemble setting that features, perhaps unsurprisingly Peter Ind on bass. The Abbey Road Sessions is released on 7 March on Splash Point Records and in addition to Shaw and Ind features pianist Phil Ware; guitarist David Preston; alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev; trumpeter Miguel Gorodi; and drummer Gene Calderazzo.
– Jon Newey