There’s a fair chance you’ve heard CLARE TEAL on Radio Two, although she has just left the station after 15 years of great programmes.
Performing live is where her heart truly lies. As much as Clare loves fronting her Trio or Big Mini Band or singing with orchestras around the world, she still revels in performing in more intimate venues accompanied on piano just by Jason Rebello.
From swing to sublime ballads, Clare’s Duo Concerts are renowned for their fabulous musicality coupled with Clare’s warm and witty storytelling guaranteeing the audience something uniquely personal and always very special.
We spoke to Clare recently about her love of touring, her Radio show, how she came to Jazz in the first place. But she started by telling us why she enjoys being out on the road. First though, some music from the Lichfield Festival.
The rich, jazz infused repertoire explores timeless classics penned by the legendary musical storytellers of the last 100 years, and celebrates giants of the Great American and British Songbooks through to the work of more contemporary writers crafting the standards of today plus Clare’s own original compositions.
Jason’s got one hell of a reputation as well having performed with Sting, Jeff Beck, Wayne Shorter, James Moody, Pee Wee Ellis, Bud Shank, Gary Burton and recorded with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Desree, Omar to name a few. As well as performing and composing on grammy award winning albums he has recorded 7 of his own . He is now composing and running workshops around the country as well as his own concerts. He is excited to be working with Clare, and to be playing swinging jazz again!
The joyous ever-evolving set list, draws from a rich catalogue including selections from Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Rodgers and Hart, Sting, Van Morrison and Ed Cobb and honouring the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Nancy Wilson, Frances Faye and Peggy Lee. You just have to look at the reviews to appreciate what a night you’ll have with Clare.
- “Clare has a timeless sound to her voice and classic touch and sound to her own songwriting. Now how modern is that? Music to melt to I’d say.” – Jamie Cullum
- “Ladies and gents, I’d like to introduce someone that I’m a fan of. She’s a threat! When I say a threat, she’s a triple threat – she writes, she sings and she can do like a fire thing right! Please go out and buy Clare Teal’s record! – Michael Bublé
- “The new first lady of Jazz” – The Independent
- “A First Class Evening’s Entertainment from The Queen of Swing” – Time Out
- “In this overcrowded field, Clare Teal deserves special attention” – Daily Telegraph,
- “Fabulous” – Daily Mail,
- “This is as good as they come” – Jazzwise,
Clare continues to surge ahead on her mission to bring big band and swing to music lovers everywhere, to demonstrate that this genre is ever evolving and still relevant in todays world. Alongside her own weekly 2 hour live radio show on BBC Radio 2, Clare performs across the length and breadth of the UK, and internationally, with either her Pianist, Trio, Mini Big Band or Hollywood Orchestra (Mini Big Band with Strings), celebrating the singers and songwriters of yesteryear and today alongside her own original material.
She also guests with the Hallé, BBC Concert, RTÉ Concert and The John Wilson orchestras as well as other top big bands. In August 2015, in addition to a packed touring schedule, Clare produced and presented her 2nd full scale concert for the Proms Season at the Royal Albert Hall. ‘Story of Swing’ featured 2 roaring big bands and many special guests it was broadcast on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and televised on BBC Four.
Other highlights of Clare’s live work include collaborating with Sir Van Morrison on his album ‘Duets: Reworking the Catalogue’ resulting in the A listed Radio single ‘Carrying A Torch’, opening twice for Liza Minnelli at Kenwood House and the Royal Festival Hall, singing with the BBC Big Band at Proms in the Park, headlining the Bourbon Street Tent at Glastonbury Festival, performing regularly at the world renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, storming the Marlborough Jazz Festival and producing, presenting and performing ‘Battle of the Bands Duke Ellington v Count Basie’ for the 2014 Proms Season at the Royal Albert Hall, which was broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio 2 & 3 and was the most viewed prom of 2014 on BBC Four.
Clare won British Jazz Singer of the year in 2005, 2007 and 2015, and BBC Jazz Singer of the Year in 2006. She was awarded Arts & Entertainment Personality of the Year in 2004 & 2011 Yorkshire Awards, a coveted Gold Badge by BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors) in 2011 and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music by the University of Wolverhampton in 2015.
As one of the UK’s greatest interpreters of song and much loved performers, with 15 acclaimed albums to her name, and a new one on its way this year, Clare and her pianist Jason promise a sparkling night of inspired music and unbridled entertainment, performed by the very best.
Like everyone else, Clare has had dates cancelled and rescheduled. Take a look at her website for more details. She is playing the Cowbridge Festival in the Vale of Glamorgan on Saturday 16th October. For details on that, and her other live shows, go here CLARE
