British jazz award winners join forces to celebrate Ella Fitzgerald at The Apex
Liane Carroll – voted best singer in the British Jazz Awards 2016 and Claire Martin – voted best singer in 2015, come together to present this centenary tribute to the wonderful, unique performer that was Ella Fitzgerald at The Apex, next month.
Ella Fitzgerald was often referred to as ‘The First Lady of Song’, ‘Queen of Jazz’ and ‘Lady Ella’.
She was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century, winning 13 Grammy awards and selling over 40 million albums.
Whether singing sultry ballads, sweet jazz or imitating each instrument in an orchestra, Ella was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and her improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.
She worked with all the jazz greats, from Count Basie and Nat King Cole, to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman. Her collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and The Ink Spots produced songs such as ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’, ‘Cheek to Cheek’, ‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’, and ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)’.
Liane Carroll recently launched London’s 2017 Jazz Divas Series. Her first four albums all enjoyed four-star reviews, with ‘Ballads’ receiving five stars from The Jazz Journal, and ‘Seaside’ winning CD of the Year at the 2015 British Jazz Awards.
Claire Martin is an established tour de force on the UK jazz scene, winning the British Jazz Awards seven times and receiving an OBE in 2011, for her Services to Jazz. Claire has released 20 CDs on the prestigious Linn Records label and performed all over the world. “Our finest jazz singer” – The Times
The Ella Fitzgerald Centenary Concert is at The Apex, on Thursday, November 16 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £23, ring the box office on 01284 758000 or see the website, www.theapex.co.uk for details.
Pictured above is Liane Carroll.