July round-up

July started with a sleepy train ride home from Sheffield after our last gig of the Jazz Services tour (read all about my exploits over the last 3 days of the tour on my previous blog by clicking here.)

Then back to the reality of teaching... 
No time to go home - I rushed straight to a school for a recorder concert, squeaks aplenty.  Eventually at 18:30 I finished my day's work and could sit down on my sofa - which I'd been wanting to do for 2 months! - and do nothing - again, something I'd been waiting to do for a long time.


July 4th saw the start of a beautiful relationship.  I appeared as a guest singer with the Hot Orange big band and we had such a great gig that they asked me back to appear with them whenever I can - a terrific pleasure.  I have some big band arrangements in the pipeline, so I'm hoping to try them out with this band.  
(On the same note, I'm working again with Mark Armstrong's big band on September 25th in High Wycombe - well worth a trip - and I'll be showcasing my very own big band at Ruislip Manor in December.)  The next Hot Orange gig is in Whitechapel on Sunday 22nd August.


So you must have noticed this article by now:? (I know the caption says 'and trio' but you just have to imagine the other two musicians!)


On July 10th, my quartet appeared at Marlborough Jazz Festival.  We had a short set just after lunch, which was part of UK Jazz Radio's "Women in Jazz" feature.  The other women were Verona Chard and Linley Weir (they played their sets after mine.)


Hopefully we'll be back next year.


I couldn't get a lift to Marlborough because my entire band had to set off to different places afterwards, so I decided to take the train.  The nearest station is Swindon - a mere 13 miles, so I merrily set off with my bike in tow, imagining an enjoyable 1 hour cycle ride at the other end.  Unfortunately, google maps hadn't chosen the best route for me, so - despite the road being pretty much a straight line from Swindon to Marlborough - I had an epic hill which made my bike feel twice as heavy as normal, then the downhill appeared to be a dirt track for approximately 4 miles.  Now, 4 miles usually takes me about 20 minutes - and that's with London traffic lights.  After 35 minutes I was still bumping and jumping along this track which could only have been made by a tractor in wetter conditions, then baked over the last few good-weather weeks.  Argh!  It was already soundcheck time and I was in the middle of nowhere with a great big yellow trail stretching into the distance in front of me.  No choice but to keep going.  Eventually I found a diversion through some woodland and somehow made it onto the road - and miraculously I was on the outskirts of Marlborough.  Brake pads in questionable condition.


So after the gig, I continued my journey to Andover, where I was staying the night with friends.  Only another 22 miles!  So basically, I had cycled 35 miles in one day and done a gig in the middle.  That breaths new life into the song Workin Hard!


As well as all this, I spent a lovely day in my home town of Hitchin at the Rhythms of the World festival, and had a very enjoyable gig at the Archduke.  Jazz at the Archduke is well-worth supporting.  It's the best quality jazz you'll get for free anywhere in London, and I'd go as far as to say the entire country.  A stylish setting, excellent food, and free music with some of London's best musicians.  I'm next appearing there with my duo for the early set on a Saturday evening - check my website listings for exact dates.

Top ten backing vocals

I have been spending lots of time this month working as a backing singer for 3 different groups: hip hop/soul group Hudson Airies, rock group VALL and pop punk band The Instants. (Click on the links to visit their myspace pages. Have a look at my gigs page to see when we're performing live.)

Backing singing is harder than it sounds! Although there aren't many words to remember, you've got to get your entries right, and if - heaven forbid - you do actually forget the words, there's no option to make them up, because someone else is singing them too! No scatting allowed.

So my top ten list for August is a compilation of backing singing performances that have caught my attention for various reasons. Sometimes the recording artist records their own, and sometimes it is an artist in their own right.

Top Ten Backing Vocals

1. Take That

Instead of just singing a harmony to the tune on a chorus, Take That use their backing vocals as additional parts. An extra set of lyrics is sometimes added - take, for example in the song Sure...

Lead Vocal: "It's not a game so don't play hard to get"

Backing vocal: "I'm tired of running after you"

This is quite an obvious example, but this kind of exchange of words and melodies happens regularly, making the backing vocals integral to the song. Believe it or not, if someone is having trouble writing backing vocal lines I always encourage them to listen to Take That!

2. Prince (for Prince)

Unbelievably talented musician Prince apparently plays most of the instruments on most of his recordings. His ridiculous vocal range means that he can do most backing vocals himself. When I was growing up and watching Top of the Pops regularly, Prince appeared to change his name to 'The Artist Formerly Known As Prince,' or TAFKAP. Apparently this is just a title the media created because he had in fact changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol:

In a modern world of smilies, I think I'll change my name to ;0)) . Call me TAFKASEH.

3. Prince (for Madonna)

Prince collaborated with Madonna on the album Like a Prayer. He co-wrote the track Love Song and sings backing vocals on it. On the same album, Prince also worked on one more track - Act of Contrition - which is Like a Prayer played backwards. An excellent idea for my next album! How about Drahn Ik Row or Eploe Pemos? (I know it's not exactly the same effect but it's the best I could do in the time given!)

4. Michael Jackson

An incredibly talented singer, Michael Jackson would record many of his own backing vocals. He also had a plethora of talented siblings to choose from. One of his backing singers in the 1990s was Sheryl Crow. Another interesting (or useless) fact: Michael Jackson was an Exeter City supporter.

5. Vivien Green – for Jill Scott on Later with Jools Holland Hip Hop Soul

As a teenager, when I first was becoming interested in music and singers, I discovered this DVD at a friend's house (No, I wasn't snooping around - we were watching it). It features brilliant live versions of songs such as Alicia Keys Falling, Mary J Blige Family Affair and Jill Scott Getting in the Way. Vivien Green appears as a backing singer for Jill Scott, and later on in the playlist as a performer in her own right with the breathtaking Fanatic.

It's an amazing collection of music - if you can ignore the need of Mr Holland to play a boogie-woogie solo over everyone's hip hop tune(?) - and there's a gem of an interview with Alicia Keys who treats the viewer to a spontaneous and unerringly passionate Never Can Say Goodbye.

6. Sarah Ellen Hughes

Ah, here I am again in my own top ten! This is because I'm extremely proud of my backing vocals on both of the original tunes of my album: Some People and Workin Hard (if you didn't get it earlier these are the backwards words in No. 2.)

While listening to the first mix with my drummer Darren, he dubbed the backings in the middle 8 of Some People the 'X-Factor moment,' and he can't resist singing them while sitting behind his drums on a gig. I should get him a mic. Thoughts, Darren?

7. Seal

One of the most beautiful arrangements of harmonies I've ever heard is on Kiss From A Rose from Seal's second album. In 1996 the song won 3 Grammy Awards - for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Surprisingly though, it only got to number 60 in the charts on its first release, but after being used under the credits for the film 'Batman Forever' it went straight to number 1.

8. Kurt Elling

On the album 'A Time For Love,' Kurt Elling records a wonderful multitrack version of Irving Berlin's The Best Things Happen When You Dance. It has inspired me to start a new group called 'Sector 7,' featuring jazz quartet and 3 vocalists, which will include new London jazz sensationKwabena Adjepong and London Jazz Vocalist Award nominee Emma Smith. I'm very excited and believe it will be the next big thing! So watch this space.

9. Rayne Fitton

Long before I had thoughts of becoming a professional singer, I would listen to my cousin, Rayne Fitton, singing and playing guitar with the various groups that she was in while still a UK resident. The most memorable of these groups for me was Johnson, signed to Sony for one beautiful album. The thing that made me listen most to Rayne was the fact that she never sang the tune when singing along to a song on tv or the radio... she would make up harmonies as she went. How did she do it?! I would marvel at this skill.

I do it a lot myself now - in practise for my backing vocals, or finding ideas for new arrangements of tunes - but whenever I find myself absently singing along to something in harmony I think of Rayne.

10. Jocelyn Brown

When preparing to sing at a wedding about 2 years ago, I was asked to learn the brilliant party tune Somebody Else's Guy. I went into HMV and bought 'Jocelyn Brown - The Hits.' The guy at the counter was amazed that Jocelyn Brown could have a Hits CD, given that she really has only this one notable song to her credit. However, as a backing singer and session vocalist, Jocelyn Brown has recorded some of the most memorable dance tunes of all time. Think Keep On Jumping, Love's Gonna Get You, the feel-good Always There and a stand-out version of Aint No Mountain High Enough, released in 1998. With a stack of top 20 UK hits and a long list of US number 1s, Jocelyn Brown is proof enough that the career of a backing singer can be as respected and lucrative as being the front woman.

PREVIOUS TOP TENS:
iPod Top Ten - click here to view

A UK Tour - the final chapter

Darning the Dream promotional tour: North East Leg

Monday 28th June

I’ve been teaching all day in London, so the journey started with a mad scramble on my bike up to King’s Cross, with 4 days’ worth of stuff with me. I look a bit like a pack-horse.

The train stopped moving for about 3 ¼ minutes at Darlington Station. I did my make up in 3. A desperate dash into a taxi at Newcastle Station, and I pitch up at the gig with 5 mins before ‘baton down.’ There might have been less stressful ways to start the tour.

Lance Liddle – a man I met after doing an impromptu guest spot with Tina May at a Worshipful Company of Musicians gig and who put me up to this one – was there. A lover of jazz and food, he blogged the evening accurately and elegantly: read his review here.

Tuesday 29th June

What a lovely place Bishop Auckland is. Of course, it helps that we were treated to a full day of glorious sunshine but nevertheless, BA managed to fulfil all our needs: beautiful weather, charming streets to walk around, a Superdrug for those forgotten items, a library computer to catch up on my blog, and a pub in which to witness Japan being knocked out of the world cup.

We’re happy to be here – as you can tell from this picture – well, Rick is clearly happiest (I’m no cameraman – this was the only picture of about 10 where I managed to capture anyone off the ground. The rest look like the one below.)

So, as you can see, our gig is at Bishop Auckland Town Hall (BATH). I don’t normally sing in the bath but this gig was great!

Pictures of me EVERYWHERE – how many Sarahs can you spot in this picture?:

The gig was lovely - helpful sound guys, friendly staff and attentive audience.

Wednesday 30th June

We've spent the day sunbathing and relaxing in Rick's parents' garden. Check out this lovely picture, complete with singer's and drummer's feet, to prove we were actually there!

It's been lovely - time for relaxing, socialising and reflecting. We're feeling quite sad that this is the last day of the tour.

And what a last day!

We played the best gig of the whole tour at The Lescar in Sheffield. The crowd… well, I say crowd, but it was somewhat diminished owing to a fairly large jazz event happening in town. I commented on this to the audience – something along the lines of “I understand there’s a major jazz event going on in Sheffield today…” “It’s HERE!” piped up Darren. Of course!

Anyway, the crowd were attentive and knowledgeable, and cheering for more at the end. Gosh! Why hadn’t I planned an encore?! Perhaps it’s because on the last two nights we didn’t need one; perhaps it’s that our regular encore is the same style and tempo as the last tune of the set (appropriately: That’s All). So I chose to sing I Will Survive over a blues. Somehow it works (but don’t just take my word for it – check it out on my WEBSITE for proof…)

A reviewer came up to me at the end. “Excellent!” he said. I wonder if his review agrees – click here to view it.

Today would have been my mum's 65th birthday. The title track of my album is a song about her. When we got to that number in the set, I suddenly realised it was a hard ask for me to sing it. I welled up a few times, hoping that the audience would understand what was going on rather than thinking I was singing it badly. Afterwards, I explained to them the significance of the day. A fitting way to finish a tour promoting an album dedicated to my mum.

We had planned to stay the night in a hotel for a knees-up. However, Darren has to teach in the morning, Gavin is only a 20 minute drive from home, and Rick wants to go back in the car with Darren. So I’m left alone. Why didn’t I go home with them?! My hotel is… budget. An old bar of soap, no TV remote, but of course a trusty bible. I can’t get much sleep because there’s a pub on the ground floor and it sounds like the DJ is IN MY ROOM. I should have been suspicious at the two packets of earplugs on the bed. A good night’s sleep? No dice. A good end to a 2-month tour? Despite the noise and discomfort, I’m extremely happy, proud and satisfied to have been the organiser and performer of a successful trip in upwards of 20 locations all around the UK.

iPod Top Ten

The shuffle setting on the iPod is a marvellous thing. It’s not always totally random – the iPod will lean towards artists or albums it’s already selected in the current shuffle. Some shuffles can be a dud; some can be ideal. Here is my ideal iPod shuffle: iPod Top Ten.

1. Sting All This Time (album)
2. Silje Nergaard Paper Boats (from the album Darkness Out of Blue)
3. Stevie Wonder Natural Wonder (album)
4. Gill Manly Daydream (from the album With a Song In My Heart)
5. Tuck and Patti Tears of Joy (album)
6. Shirley Horn Here’s To Life (album)
7. Kurt Elling Nature Boy (from the album The Messenger)
8. Avishai Cohen Trio Gently Disturbed (album)
9. Neil Yates New Origins (album)
10. Sarah Ellen Hughes But Not For Me (from the album Darning the Dream)
    
    1) Sting All This Time (album)
    
    Recorded on September 11^th 2001, this album was released as a dedication to all who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on that day. Despite the newsof the tragedy reaching the band before the show, concert went ahead as a tribute. You can detect some melancholy, but it’s an amazing testimony to how music can suspend ordinary emotions and take the listener and music-maker to another – better – place.
    In the setting of his home in Tuscany, Sting treatsan intimately-sized audience to a wicked melange of Sting/Police classics. Most have a jazzy twist – heaven for a jazz singer looking to freshen up a set full of Gershwin and Cole Porter. (Not that there’s anything wrong with G & CP, but with songs approaching 100 years old, it’s good to inject something new from time to time.)
    An assembly of musicians from Jason Rebello to Christian McBride indicate to the audience that they’re in safe hands.
    
    
    2) Silje Nergaard Paper Boats (from the album Darkness Out of Blue)
    
    A friend recommended this singer to me about a year ago and I’ve never looked back! This, her 9^th album, is entirely original material – (some other albums include jazz standards) – words by Mike McGurk and music by Nergaard, proof indeed that here is a wonderful musician as well as captivating singer.
    The start of this particular song is irresistibly simple – one note repeated 8 times, the harmony changing beneath, effortlessly resolved through the rest of the phrase. A pairing of lyrics and melody: beautifully woven together as if they were composed by the same mind.
    
    
    3) Stevie Wonder Natural Wonder (album)
    
    A treasury of astonishing vocals and a collection of some of the most important songs ever written, this double CD album captures a live concert in Japan, depicting Stevie Wonder at his genius best.
    The joy of a live gig is to hear familiar songs in new, innovative arrangements. This recording doesn’t disappoint. It changed the way I both sing his repertoire and listen to his music.
    4) Gill Manly Daydream (from the album With a Song In My Heart)
    
    Whilst wandering across the concourse at Kings Cross Station one day, this gorgeous tune came on my iPod. I stopped, turned up the volume, and listened intently, thoroughly happy. At the end, I skipped it back immediately and listened all over again.
    Gill Manly does a wonderful show: a tribute to Nina Simone (read my review of the show here) – so I’m going to use some of this column space to talk about Nina too. Despite being one of the world’s most important singers, I don’t really enjoy listening to Nina Simone, a feeling quite a number of singers I know share. However, there are four recordings that I can’t get enough of: Little Girl Blue, I Loves You Porgy, He Needs Me and, predictably, My Baby Just Cares For Me. Timeless.
    
    
    5) Tuck and Patti Tears of Joy (album)
    
    The first professional work I ever did as a jazz singer was a guitar duo in Lancaster. Since then, I’ve continued working with wonderful guitarists including Mark Townson, John Moore and Chris Allard. The ultimate guitar/voice pairing is Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart. Tuck’s guitar playing defies belief and Patti’s vocals leave the ear wanting nothing, despite the lack of other instrumentalists. Check out the haunting Mad Mad Me, the rip-roaring I’ve Got Just About Everything, and a romantic version of – appropriately – My Romance.
    
    
    6) Shirley Horn Here’s To Life (album)
    
    Despite not being a jazz fan, my Dad bought this album for me on recommendation of Shirley Horn being a “jazz singer’s singer.” I fell in love immediately with the glorious strings – particularly an inverted pedal on violins at the beginning of the title track (an inverted pedal is a high note held for a significant length while the harmony changes beneath it). I was captivated by what Horn sang – or rather didn’t sing. Simplicity and silence speaks volumes.
    Upon listening to the album twice in a row, it made me want to immediately quit my job as a teacher and embark upon a jazz singing career. A few months later, that’s exactly what I did.
    
    
    7) Kurt Elling Nature Boy (from the album The Messenger)
    
    My shuffle wouldn’t be working properly if it didn’t land on one of the six Kurt Elling albums I have. This man made me rethink not only the way I was singing and performing, but what I wanted to achieve as a vocalist, as I’m sure he has for many a singer. I can’t pick a favourite album, but Nature Boy from The Messenger is worth listening to with undivided attention and the volume full-blast.
    8) Avishai Cohen Trio Gently Disturbed (album)
    
    I bought this album because it was playing in the jazz room at HMV. I was immediately captivated by the ambient sound, and on closer inspection I found it to be a fantastic collection of innovative compositions and brilliant musicianship, not only from bassist Cohen, but also Mark Guiliana on drums, and the brilliantly named Shai Maestro on piano.
    9) Neil Yates New Origins (album)
    
    Neil Yates is not only a terrific trumpeter, he’s also a brilliant composer. New Origins is an album largely inspired by places around where he lives on the North Welsh coast. It fuses jazz, folk and Celtic music, using the sound of the Bodhrán (pronounced bor-an) and whistles alongside more regular jazz instruments. He also sings on the last track. Magic.
    Neil doesn’t visit London often, but when he does, I always try to see him. The last time he was here, my sister Anna and I went, proudly wearing our t-shirts (think about it). Neil was well chuffed! We got a photo and a hug!
    New Origins is one of those albums I’ve listened to so much that I know it by heart. Certain chords make me swell; certain passages make me beam; certain solos make me gasp… still. The sound guy at The Crypt in Camberwell (www.jazzlive.co.uk) has been just as taken with the album. He’s played it every Friday in between sets for about the last 3 years.
    10) Sarah Ellen Hughes But Not For Me (from the album Darning the Dream)
    
    I would be doing something wrong if I didn’t take this self-promotional opportunity by the scruff of the neck. So the final track in this list is from my debut album Darning the Dream, available on Amazon, iTunes, HMV (are you clicking the links to buy it yet?)
    It is the curse of any jazz singer, and perhaps any musician, to be dissatisfied with a studio recording. It will never be good enough! At some point you have to close the lid and say “That’s as good as it’s going to get.”
    So it came as something of a pleasant surprise to report that when a recent shuffle landed on But Not For Me, I actually enjoyed listening to it! Perhaps it’s the drum solo, the wonderful contribution from Dave O’Higgins’s tenor, the lush vibes gluing it together, or perhaps it’s the fact that it’s not half bad! This particular track, above the rest of the album, made it on to the list because it was the first one that, when selected by shuffle, I didn’t skip it on. Instead, it made me smile. The others are growing on me too!
    
    

Pizza on the Park news

The news that Pizza on the Park has been given a reprieve until September to continue putting on live music (rather than the original June) is music to my ears!

There's a rather interesting article in the Times, which you can read by clicking here.

There is a good possibility that I'll be doing a gig there - for the last time ever! - in September. Watch this space for more.

Looking ahead - June gigs

A look ahead to the final leg of the tour:

Sunday 13th June

Grove Inn Jazz Club, Leeds, 8:30pm

Saturday 19th June

Swindon Jazz Festival - The Wheatsheaf, Newport Street, 2pm

Friday 25th June

Carswell Country Club, Oxfordshire, 8:30pm

Monday 28th June

The Cherry Tree, Newcastle, 7:30pm

Tuesday 29th June

Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 8pm

Wednesday 30th June

The Lescar, Sheffield, 9pm

Gig round-up: May

Some great gigs to report on from May.

We made two Sunday afternoon trips up to Yorkshire - the first to Seven Jazz in Leeds, and the second to Pave Bar in Hull.

The Hull gig coincided with the final game for Hull City in the premiership, so the bar was unusually full with expectant Tigers fans. An interesting atmosphere to play some intimate jazz to! Kick-off was mid-way through the second set, so at least our last set and a half of music-making happened in peace!

The following weekend, we had a fabulous trip to Jersey, playing 3 different hotels in as many days. The audiences were receptive, generous and large, and much credit goes to my wonderful sister, Clare, who put us up and helped with a great deal of promotion for this terrific trip.

Our return from Jersey was nearly hugely delayed owing to a certain angry volcano. However, we made it back in time on Monday evening to have at least a day's rest before setting off to Scarborough on Wednesday 19th May. What a great venue! We had an incredibly enjoyable gig and, judging by the club's review, the audience did too! (Click here to read the review)

The following day we had an afternoon gig at the beautiful Sewerby Hall, just south of Scarborough. The event was well-attended, which was a relief to me because we had competition in Scarborough from one of the world's most famous women... the town was enjoying a visit from the Queen!! Nevertheless, our afternoon concert was an incredible success - both for the attention of the audience and the attractive surroundings. That evening, we finished off the mini-tour with a great evening of jazz in Hebden Bridge, joined this time by the superb saxophonist Dave O'Higgins.

One of my favourite gigs on the tour so far has been in the Wayfarer's Arcade at the Southport Jazz Festival. This beautiful Victorian arcade (click here for more info) housed a band stand and plenty of seating for passers by, shoppers, or jazz fans to listen for some or all of our concert. It was a delightful setting, and the architecture made for optimum natural reverb! A real Sunday afternoon treat.