Multi award-winning jazz vocalist Claire Martin O.B.E. joins the internationally acclaimed B.B.C. Big Band for a celebration of the legendary leading ladies – Big Band Divas, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee and their contemporaries at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday 19th November.
Born in Wimbledon, South London, Claire Martin was born to sing. Growing up in a house full of music, she loved Judy Garland and learned all her songs by the time she was 12. But it was hearing Ella Fitzgerald’s legendary Song Books that changed her life inspiring her to go to Stage School and then to study singing in London and New York. A further seminal moment came at 18 when she saw the great improvising singer Betty Carter at Ronnie Scott’s. It confirmed what she already felt – she had to be a jazz singer.
Rightly acclaimed as the outstanding voice of her generation, Claire’s 1992 debut The Waiting Game scored rave reviews and was chosen as a Times Album of the Year. Interestingly, the liner notes were written by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, co-star of Martin’s 2005 album (a beautiful collection of outstanding songs featuring just the two of them). Claire achieved one of her ambitions later that year, opening for Tony Bennett at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival.
During spring 2000, Claire was chosen by B.B.C. Radio 3 to present a new weekly jazz show called Jazz Line Up. This is still going from strength to strength and next year will be celebrating its 10th birthday. Claire has interviewed some of her all time musical hero‘s including – Pat Metheney, Brad Mehldau,, Tania Maria, Mike Stern, Joe Locke, Joshua Redman, Diane Reeves and the late Micheal Brecker. A ‘dream job’ as she rightly describes it!
Claire’s latest release A Modern Art was recorded during March of 2009 and features the amazing talents of Nigel Hitchcock, Laurence Cottle (who also produced and arranged the sessions), Mark Nightingale, Phil Robson and Gareth Williams. Always keen to surround herself with the best musician’s in town, the C.D. is a modern take on jazz singing in the 21st century. Two new original songs by Claire and Laurence are alongside new songs by Mark Winker, Joshua Redman, Lauren Kinhan, Colin Lazzerini and all time favourite writers Donald Fagan, Micheal Franks, Cy Colemand and Rodgers and Hart.
Enjoy the classic songs that made them stars, such as That Old Black Magic, I’ve Got The World on a String, Too Darn Hot and many more. Plus plenty of popular Big Band hits from the groups that the divas loved to work with, including Artie Shaw, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. Celebrate the leading ladies of jazz with some of the best big band tunes.
Tickets for Big Band Divas are priced at £18.50, £21.50 and £24.50. Tickets are available from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Box office or online at www.liverpoolphil.com.