(Vocal Jazz) Juliet Kelly - Aphrodite's Child - 2003, MP3, 320 kbps

Juliet's story isn't one of the girl who started singing as soon as she could talk or of a background of school plays or stage-school. Her journey to becoming a singer was an unexpected and sometimes difficult one...
"I never expected to become a jazz singer! In fact, when I was 5 years old I imagined that I would become a pro tennis player (interestingly, I've never even played a tennis match!) or a laywer (I loved arguing the pros and cons of having to tidy my toys away...) I grew up in a strict, religious household where all music apart from the religious variety was completely banned. I flouted these rules every Sunday by listening in secret to the chart show on my tiny, ladybird shaped radio. At school I was shy and reserved and any involvement in school productions was strictly in a non-speaking part or preferably behind the scenes!
After following the expected path by studying for a degree in economics, everything changed when I enrolled on a jazz a cappella vocal class at a local music workshop where the teacher, Anita Wardell, told me I had a natural talent for jazz. Up until then I'd known nothing about jazz and had never sung in public but after doing my first gig and getting paid for doing something I loved so much, I realised there would be no turning back...
Within a year, after lessons with Anita who was a great inspiration to me, I auditioned for and was accepted on to the postgraduate jazz course at London's prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I had a wonderful time there and it was one of the best things I've ever done. Soon after, I was lucky enough to work with some outstanding musicians including John Etheridge, Orphy Robinson, Gary Crosby amongst others and I have performed at venues around the UK as well as in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Israel and Australia.
Still, it took quite some time before I discovered my musical identity and whilst a lot of my peers were recording albums of standards, I delayed, waiting and hoping to find my own voice and to record an album of my original material. This resulted in my "Acoustic Groove" sound which I termed because although there is a slight, laid-back groove to my music which usually features a bass riff, it is definitely an acoustic sound as opposed to regular soul or R&B and melodically the main influence is jazz. Having said that, I love jazz standards but I wanted to share my own perspective of the beauty, freedom and expression of jazz-influenced music - music that can appeal to a younger and more diverse audience as well as to more mainstream jazz fans.
My debut album, Aphrodite's Child, features a wonderful band with Mike Gorman (piano), Tom Barlow (acoustic bass) and Seb Rochford (drums) with special guest, Tony Kofi (sax). I really hope that you enjoy the music - it's all very personal to me and shares my experiences of love, desire, overcoming fear and remaining optimistic!"
Juliet's eagerly awaited debut album showcases her original songs with their beautiful, haunting vocals over laid-back grooves. She is an artist with universal appeal that goes far beyond the usual jazz audience.
The album features her own highly accessible compositions which range from toe-tapping grooves to breathtakingly beautiful ballads, and also includes an interpretation of Sade's "Your Love Is King" - Sade being one of Juliet's early influences.
Her subtle, but sure, phrasing and spellbinding delivery are complemented by brilliant support from the hottest young jazz musicians on the scene - Mike Gorman on piano (Jim Mullen, Us3, Incognito), Tom Barlow on acoustic bass, Seb Rochford on drums (winner of "Rising Star" category at BBC Jazz Awards 2004) and special guest Tony Kofi on sax (Courtney Pine, Brandford Marsalis, Andrew Hill, Jazz Jamaica).
"...a singer whose rich, raw voice is as compelling as her compositions." Jazzwise
"Sweet, sexy and seductive... an absolute pleasure to listen to..." Ian Carr, jazz trumpeter & historian
"A beautiful singer, of beautiful songs." The Guardian

Juliet Kelly (vocals); Mike Gorman (piano); Tom Barlow (acoustic bass); Seb Rochford (drums)