Claire Martin

Singer songwriter Judith Owen performs for one night only at the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre on

26th February.

Claire Martin,  Ian Shaw,  Danny Thompson amongst special guests.  For FREE tickets (there are 5 pairs

to be won) just email Judith at judithowen1@mac.com.   For more info www.judithowen.net.

Hear Pat Metheny on Jazz Line Up on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 7th February.  Pat talks about his life long

dream of creating and recording with an ‘Orchestrion’ which is the title of his new c.d.

Claire interviews and sings with Jamie Cullum in an exclusive interview for Jazz Line Up BBC Radio

3 on Sunday 14th February.  Jamie delvers the goods with songs from his new c.d ‘The Pursuit’. 11.45 – 1am

Champagne and lunch or dinner at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street Soho.

See Claire with Dave Newton on piano and Steve Watts on bass singing songs for all you romantics!  Requests will be accepted…..

For tickets and further information please call 0845 6027 017.  Book early!!

By Alyn Shipton The Times December 2009

For several years the jazz singers Claire Martin and Ian Shaw have offered an evening of seasonal escapism at the Purcell Room in the run-up to Christmas. This year’s edition of their Early Christmas Stocking was a well-honed mixture of the artfully rehearsed and the brilliantly spontaneous. There was no backing band and no paraphernalia, just the two singers and Shaw’s characteristic, if occasionally eccentric, accompaniment at the piano.

Like all the best jazz concerts, the risk-taking jostled with the firm-footed, so that a pause for an invisible (and inaudible) guitar solo brought a laugh and then appreciative applause as the two re-entered bang on the beat, in pitch and in perfect harmony. Their a capella singing together was a delight, with Martin holding the vocal line as Shaw’s voice dextrously wove above and below her, changing the rhythm, texture and feel, notably on a spirited version of I’ll Never Fall in Love Again. A mixture of jazz standards and love songs gave way to a brief segment of yuletide fare, complete with Christmas hats, before the pair reverted to highlights from their long collaboration. Shaw’s witty additions to the lyrics of Making Whoopee were as downbeat and throwaway as his urbane announcements, which suggested that he could prosper as a stand-up comedian. Meanwhile Martin showed that she remains a supreme and sensitive interpreter of ballads, not least on an excellently measured But Not for Me.

Overall, what the audience had turned up to hear was a good-time selection of jazz songs, with plenty of opportunities to join in. Timid silence greeted Shaw’s first invitation for everyone to sing the chorus of Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, but soon each invitation to take part was enthusiastically taken up. However, Shaw’s party piece, a singalong Latin version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm, taken at breakneck speed, proved too much for even his most devoted fans, dissolving into giggles and riotous applause.

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Claire Martin has won Best Vocalist at the British Jazz Awards 2009! The awards have always celebrated the best in British jazz and this year is no exception. The calibre of the musicians shortlisted indicates the excellence present in jazz in Britain today. Claire’s victory in the Vocal category is a true triumph – also nominated were the outstanding vocalists Val Wiseman, Norma Winstone, Liane Carroll and Clare Teal.

The awards were ultimately decided by public vote – magazine readers, gig goers, radio listeners and musicians all contributed. Claire said “I am thrilled to receive this award and honoured to be listed in the same group as Norma Winstone and Liane Carroll who are my favourite singers! Having your hard work acknowledged is always a bonus.  Thank you to all who voted for me, I’m very grateful.”

Britain’s leading female jazz singer, Claire Martin, released her new album, ‘A Modern Art’, earlier this year to glowing reviews. The Scotsman said “she is still a cut about the competition” whilst Time Out called it “her finest album to date”. Praise indeed for, as the Sunday Times called her, “the most gifted jazz singer this country has produced in 20 years”.

Jazz singer Claire Martin talks to Stuart Nicholson in the September issue of Jazzwise about her new album A Modern Art, which includes songs by Rodgers & Hart, Cy Coleman, Donald Fagen, Michael Franks and the late Esbjörn Svensson.

Claire talks about the concept behind the new album which is explained in the title track A Modern Art penned by Claire and Lawrence Cottle. Jazzwise comments that “With A Modern Art, she goes beyond the Great American Songbook to define herself as a jazz singer in the 21st century”. Claire states her belief that “they do write songs like they used to” and that many contemporary writers deserve wider recognition. Throughout her career Claire has performed songs by John Martyn and Nick Drake and duetted with Noel Gallagher, as well as performing more ‘traditional’ songs by Shirley Horn, Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hammerstein.

In the interview you can read Claire’s thoughts on the tracks and why she chose them, as well as reading about her career from her first album back in 1991 to now, when she has emerged “as a world class artist” (Stuart Nicholson, Jazzwise).

Claire has recently completed a year of degree teaching at Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Although she has a demanding schedule with work and family, this has re-kindled a love of teaching jazz vocals. If you are interested in one to one classes or detail of vocal workshops that Claire is taking then email on: clairemartinjazz@btopenworld.com