[TR24][OF] Polly Gibbons - Many Faces of Love - 2016 (Contemporary Jazz)

Polly Gibbons, vocals
Tamir Hendelman, piano
Christian Howes, violin and all string parts
Anthony Wilson, guitar
Kevin Axt, bass
Ray Brinker, drums

Polly Gibbons is one of the most respected and talked about young singer/songwriters of her generation. Nominated for a BBC Jazz Award back in 2006 with no album release to her name, was clear indication of just how special a singer and performer Polly is. Much esteemed by her contemporaries, Polly has built a reputation as being an original and gifted voice. With warm, rich, soulful vocals and an innate blues sensibility, Polly has been likened to many of the jazz and soul greats bringing her own storytelling and earnest depth alongside unique humour and fun to performances. Having developed her craft over the past decade, Polly has performed at all the leading UK jazz clubs, international festivals and is a regular at Ronnie Scott’s performing with the All Stars. My Own Company, her debut UK jazz album with James Pearson, pianist and Musical Director of Ronnie Scott’s, was released to critical acclaim in August 2014 – long overdue, yet not before time, with Polly sounding more beautiful and rarer than ever. The album features original material including Midnight Prayer, co-penned with James Pearson, which won the Indie International Song Writing Competition 2014.
Polly signed to acclaimed US jazz label Resonance Records at the beginning of 2014, and soon after recorded the album ‘Many Faces Of Love’ in Los Angeles with founder and producer George Klabin. Having completed a highly successful preliminary autumn tour in Florida, New York, Boston and Minneapolis, the album was released globally on 4th February 2015.
Polly’s influences are brilliant, broad and inspired ~ from the poetry of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, to the be-bop of Charlie Parker, the deep wails of Mahalia Jackson’s gospel, to the emotional depth of Donny Hathaway, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone; the soul of Marvin Gaye, the blues of Buddy Guy and more contemporary brilliance in the sounds of Prince and D’Angelo.

Polly Gibbons descends from a grand tradition of jazz and blues women whose singing exudes strength, defiance and sassy wit. There are many pretenders to that throne, but Gibbons’ artistry demands attention. British-born and just 30 when she made this album in 2015, Gibbons possesses a raspy, lived-in tone, a walloping sense of swing and a dramatic flair that grabs the heart. Emotionally, her singing ranges from a slow burn to a bonfire; interpretively, she always rings true. In London jazz circles, Gibbons has been acquiring a growing chorus of champions since her emergence a decade ago.
For Many Faces of Love, Gibbons has assembled a crew of some of the most skilled musicians in contemporary jazz, led by L.A.-based pianist and arranger Tamir Hendelman, who conjures up the slamming grooves, the feistiness and the jubilation that mark Gibbons’ singing.
The concept of Many Faces of Love is to present songs that take you through four phases of love: Looking for Love, Finding Love, Losing Love, Looking to Re-Connect
Reviews
"A truly exceptional, once in a generation talent, possessing a voice of such sizzling intensity and raw emotion you could fry an egg on it." - Peter Quinn, Jazzwise Magazine
"They don't come along very often, but this one's a star." - Composer Johnny Mandel
"A soulful voice that will capture your heart... a real singer at last."- Claire Martin, Jazz Singer & BBC Broadcaster
"A soulful young jazz vocalist destined to be a star!" - Time Out London