CLAIRE MARTIN, OBE

Biography LinnrecordingartistandBBCRadiopresenterClaireMartinhasspentthelast30yearshoningthecraftofjazzsinging.ToworldwidecriticalacclaimshehasestablishedherselfasatourdeforceontheUKjazzscenegainingmanyawards,includingwinningtheBritishJazzAwardsseventimesalongtheway.

Thankstojazz-lovingparents,Clairegrewupinahouseholdfullofgreatmusic.Afterleavingstageschoolshebecameaprofessionalsingerat19andtwoyearslatersherealisedherdreamofsingingatRonnieScott’slegendaryjazzclubinSoho.SignedtotheprestigiousGlasgowbasedLinnRecordsin1990,Clairehassincereleased20CDswiththelabel,collaboratingwithmusicalluminariesincludingMartinTaylor,JohnMartyn,StephaneGrappelli,KennyBarron,RichardRodneyBennettandJimMullenonmanyoftheserecordings.

Clairehasperformedallovertheworldwithhertrioand,untilhisdeathin2012,workedextensivelywiththecelebratedcomposerandpianistSirRichardRodneyBennettinanintimatecabaretduosettingbothinEnglandandinAmericawheretheyplayedtoselloutcrowdsatvenuesincludingtheprestigiousAlgonquinHotelinNewYorkCity.ClaireisalsoafeaturedsoloistwiththeHalleOrchestra,theRoyalLiverpoolPhilharmonicOrchestra,theRTEConcertOrchestra,theRoyalNorthernSinfonia,theBBCBigBandandtheBBCConcertOrchestra.Claireco-presentedBBCRadio3’sflagshipjazzprogram‘JazzLineUp’forseventeenyearsandduringthattimeinterviewedmanyofhermusicalheroessuchasPatMethenyandthelateMichaelBrecker.Her2009CDAModernArtpromptedJazzTimesUSAtoclaim:

“Sheranksamongthefourorfivefinestfemalejazzvocalistsontheplanet”.www.clairemartinjazz.co.uk|www.clairemartin.nad.works

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Biography continued

Clairewasthrilledtowinboththe2009and2010‘BestVocalist’categoryattheBritishJazzAwardsandtouredextensivelythroughouttheUK,Scandinavia,RussiaandChina,appearingwiththeRoyalLiverpoolPhilharmonicandherworld-classtrio.2011provedtobeanextraordinaryyearforClairewhomadeherdebutatLincolnCenterinNewYorkwithGrammy®nominatedpianistBillCharlapandwentontoperformforthethirdtimeatthefamousAlgonquinHotelforathreeweekresidencywithSirRichardRodneyBennett.TheirCDWitchcraftgainedmuchcriticalacclaimandwas“unequivocallyrecommended”byJazzwisemagazine.AttheQueen’sBirthdayHonoursinJune,ClairewasdelightedtobeawardedanOBEforherServicestoJazz.

InAugust2011ClairerecordedwithlegendaryjazzpianistKennyBarronandanall-starAmericanlineupforherfifteenthalbumforLinnrecords.TooMuchinLovetoCarereceived5starreviewsandpromptedtheUSmagazineJazzJournaltostatethatsheis:

“oneofthefinestjazzsingersintheworldtoday”.Thisalbumwentontowinthe‘BestNewRecording’awardatthe2012BritishJazzAwards.2013wasspenttouringthenewmaterialintheUKandEuropeandembarkingonanewshowTheTwoofUswithconductorJohnWilson,JoeStilgoe,MarkMcGannandtheRoyalLiverpoolPhilharmonic,celebratingthemusicofPaulMcCartneyandJohnLennon.

In2014ClaireembarkedonanewanduniquemusicaladventurewiththeBrightonbasedMontpellierCelloQuartet.WithnewarrangementsespeciallywrittenforherbySirRichardRodneyBennett,MarkAnthonyTurnageandDjangoBates,thisnewchamberjazzensembletouredtheUKpromoteanewalbumonLinnRecordscalledTimeandPlace.ThealbumwaswarmlyreceivedandCliveDavisofTheTimescitedClaireas:

“ourfinestjazzsinger”.2017/8 was spent touring and promoting her project with the ever popular entertainer, saxophonist Ray Gelato as well as appearing with the singer/songwriter Joe Stilgoe and continuing her long standing celebrated duo performances with singer/pianist Ian Shaw. Claire also joined forces with the brilliant Tippett Quartet in a 10 piece setting called 'Hollywood Romance' which played to sell out audiences at Ronnie Scott's.

In2018ClairewastherecipientofaBASCAGoldBadgeAwardforherexceptionaltalentintheUKmusicindustry.

2019wasabumperyearfornewreleasesand‘Bumpin’(StuntRecords)whichcelebratedthemusicofWesMontgomeryandfeaturedthebrilliantguitaristJimMullen,and‘Believin’It’whichwasatrioalbumwithClaire’sallSwedishgroupwerebothmetwithcriticalacclaimandJazzViewswrotethatClaireMartinwas‘therealdeal’.‘Believin’It’wontheJazzwiseawardof‘AlbumoftheYear’.During2019ClairejoinedforceswithyoungupandcomingarrangerCallumAutorecordwithafull82pieceorchestraandbigbandonanalbumcalled‘SongsandStories’(StuntRecords).Thisrecordingwonthe2020ParliamentaryJazzAwardfor‘Best

Album’awardandthearrangementswererecentlyrecordedforBBCRadio2’s‘SundayNightisMusicNight’withtheBBCConcertOrchestrawhichwillbebroadcastinJanuary2022.

ClaireiscurrentlyworkingonhernextalbumprojectwhichwillbeacollaborationwiththeAmericanconductorandpianistScottDunnandtheRoyalPhilharmonicOrchestra.TheywillbepayinghomagetotheirdearfriendSirRichardRodneyBennettbyrecordinghissongsalongsidesongsthatRichardlovedtoperform.ScottDunnhaswrittenbrandnewarrangementsforthisproject.TheywillrecordatAbbeyRoadStudiosinlateSpring2022andthealbumwillbereleasedbytheendoftheyear.ItissettofeatureastunningduetwithDameSarahConnollyononeofRichard’smostrequestedsongs.

ClaireMartinlivesinBrighton.