Showing posts with label Ian Shaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian Shaw. Show all posts

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Claire Martin - Too Darn Hot!

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:44
Size: 133,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. Something's Coming
(3:51)  2. Love At Last
(4:14)  3. The Gentleman Is A Dope
(4:10)  4. These Foolish Things
(5:29)  5. It's Raining In My Heart
(3:52)  6. Too Darn Hot
(5:26)  7. Black Coffee
(4:13)  8. Noir
(4:40)  9. Love Is A Necessary Evil
(4:41) 10. When I Fall In Love
(3:43) 11. I Can Let Go Now
(5:28) 12. Four Walls
(1:58) 13. Blue Motel Room

Talented and hip beyond her years the most exciting jazz star to soar to my attention in a decade. By Rex Reed The New York Observer

Too Darn Hot! (Linn Records AKD 198) is Claire Martin’s ninth album for Linn Records. Claire makes a welcome return to her jazz roots with a "dream-team" line-up of UK jazz musicians. Visit http://www.linnrecords.com/ to download soundclips and find out more. This album features many songs from the Great American Song Book: Rogers and Hammerstein's The Gentleman is a Dope, Leonard Bernstein’s Something’s Coming from West Side Story, a superb arrangement of Cole Porter’s Too Darn Hot!, as well as luscious readings of When I Fall in Love and Black Coffee. These tracks are alongside new material by Joel Siegel (Noir) and Geoffrey Keezer (Four Walls) whilst Claire once again pays homage to one of her key influences Joni Mitchell with the final track Blue Motel Room, an a cappella duet with Ian Shaw. Collaborating with producer Richard Cottle, Too Darn Hot! features the cream of British talent and features Nigel Hitchcock, Gareth Williams, Laurence Cottle, Ian Thomas, Clark Tracey and Phil Robson. Special guest artists include the much-acclaimed pianist Geoff Keezer who is featured on his own composition Four Walls which was written for Claire.

The Tapestry String Quartet play on two arrangements by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, again written especially for Claire, It’s Raining in my Heart and When I Fall in Love. Sir Richard has been a champion of Claire's work since her debut album The Waiting Game (Linn Records AKD 018) for which he wrote the liner notes.

Introducing Claire Martin.....Claire Martin achieved instant recognition with her 1992 debut album, The Waiting Game, which was chosen as one of The Times (London)records of the year. Sir Richard Rodney Bennett concluded his liner notes for the album with the unabashed exclamation: 'This record knocks me out!' Tony Bennett was equally enthusiastic when he appeared on the same bill as Claire at the Glasgow Jazz Festival and has since had the pleasure of sketching Claire during a recent awards ceremony. Claire has a keen interest in all areas of popular music from jazz to pop. On her recordings, songs by Harold Arlen and Irving Berlin rub shoulders with Stevie Wonder, Phoebe Snow and Milton Nascimento, reflecting her eclectic roots. Claire counts Shirley Horn, Joni Mitchell, Betty Carter and Ella Fitzgerald among her stylistic influences. In January 1995 Claire made her American debut with four sell-out shows at The Nest in Washington DC to great acclaim from the Washington Post and The Village Voice. Later that year Claire won the Best British Vocalist category at the British Jazz Awards, and took her group to Ronnie Scott's to make her first live album, entitled Offbeat (Linn Records AKD 046), which includes an outstanding interpretation of Phoebe Snow's Something Real. New York Times contributor James Gavin, author of The History of New York Cabaret wrote: 'In an era when young jazz singers tend to sound far too much like their idols there's no mistaking the voice of Claire Martin who combines a cool, burnished tone with the ear of a born musician.' Following enthusiastic reviews for her appearances in the United States, Claire recorded Make This City Ours (Linn Records AKD 066) in New York, her fifth album for Linn and featuring an international line-up including American saxophonist Antonio Hart.

In March 1996 Claire appeared as guest vocalist on Years Apart (Linn Records AKD 058) with guitarist Martin Taylor recreating the 1934 Hot Club of France. Claire recorded Undecided, originally sung by Beryl Davis.

Claire also provided the lyrics for the title track and had the pleasure of recording in Paris alongside the legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli, who described her as ‘a wonderful artist, who swings and has such warmth to her voice.' The sixth album to be released was Take My Heart (Linn Records AKD 093). This was a change of direction for Claire she started to explore other genres including soul, R&B, folk, and rock. For example, Claire was joined by Noel Gallagher (Oasis) on the track Help and she also covered a Nick Drake track, Riverman. Following on from these explorations Claire released her seventh album Perfect Alibi (Linn Records AKD 122), in April 2000, this time with an appearance by guest artist John Martyn. Every Now and Then the Very Best of Claire Martin (Linn Records AKD 177) is a collection of the best tracks from the first seven albums. Too Darn Hot! is a welcome return to jazz for Claire Martin. It also heralds her first new material for 2 years.  Claire has performed throughout Europe and North America at festivals in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the United Kingdom including the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Harrogate International Festivals and with many of the world's great orchestras including the BBC Big Band and the RIAS Big Band in Berlin. In 2001 Claire toured the Far East, Europe, and Australia. In addition to her busy concert schedule Claire Martin presents 'Jazz Line-up' on BBC Radio 3. Claire will be performing songs from Too Darn Hot at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club, London, November 4th 9th 2002. http://www.jazzreview.com/jazz-news/news-story/vocalist-claire-martin-is-too-darn-hot.html


Personnel: Claire Martin (vocals); Ian Shaw (vocals); Phil Robson (guitar); Tapestry Quartet (strings); Nigel Hitchcock (saxophone); Geoffrey Keezer (piano, electric piano); Gareth Williams (piano); Richard Cottle (organ, keyboards); Geoff Gascoyne (double bass); Laurence Cottle (bass guitar); Clark Tracey, Ian Thomas (drums); Miles Bould (percussion).

Too Darn Hot!

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Sarah L King - Fire Horse

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2024
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:13
Size: 123,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:37) 1. Holding On To Love
(4:38) 2. Devil May Care
(4:22) 3. Born Yesterday
(5:33) 4. Mystery Ride
(4:00) 5. Lush Life
(4:05) 6. As Though You Were Mine
(4:42) 7. Stolen Moments
(4:24) 8. Skyscapes
(5:06) 9. Black Dog
(4:08) 10. Show You The Way To Go
(4:08) 11. Snow Blind
(4:24) 12. Your Biggest Fan

Starting her musical path with coaching from Mike King, one of the UK's leading contemporary vocal coaches, Sarah L King (no relation), surfaced as a solo jazz vocalist, releasing an EP of standards and several singles. Her passage was helped by a family heritage consisting of an accomplished jazz trumpeter father and an orchestral conductor grandmother. An early career as a writer and director of short films provided the right impetus to be a compelling musical narrator.

King's debut album, Fire Horse, has the multi-talented Claire Martin producing. Martin and King have assembled a supporting band of top-level British musicians. They include Jim Watson on piano and keyboards. Watson brings extensive experience gained with artists of the calibre of Kurt Elling and Sting. Likewise, electric bassist Laurence Cottle has played with notable names such as Jason Rebello and Eric Clapton. He also leads his own big band. Double bassist Jeremy Brown has been a member of Stacey Kent's group and is a professor of jazz double bass at the Royal Academy of Music. Drummer Ian Thomas has recorded with Robbie Robertson and BB King. Add the talents of James McMillan on flugelhorn, Chris Traves on trombone and Ian Shaw, as well as Martin, on backing vocals and you have a cracking line-up.

Starting her musical path with coaching from Mike King, one of the UK's leading contemporary vocal coaches, Sarah L King (no relation), surfaced as a solo jazz vocalist, releasing an EP of standards and several singles. Her passage was helped by a family heritage consisting of an accomplished jazz trumpeter father and an orchestral conductor grandmother. An early career as a writer and director of short films provided the right impetus to be a compelling musical narrator.

Personnel: Sarah L. King (vocals); Jim Watson (piano & keyboards); Laurence Cottle (electric bass); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Ian Thomas (drums); James McMillan (flugelhorn); Chris Traves (trombone); Claire Martin & Ian Shaw (additional vocals)
 
Fire Horse

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Ian Shaw - Shine Sister Shine

Styles: Vocal, Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:05
Size: 159,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Carry On World (Starring Everyone)
(3:46)  2. I Don't Know Enough About You
(3:50)  3. Trip and Tumble
(4:39)  4. This Beautiful Life
(3:44)  5. Shine Sister Shine
(6:16)  6. Keep Walking (Song for Sara)
(2:46)  7. How Little We Know
(4:56)  8. Not The Kind of Girl
(4:44)  9. Empire State of Mind New York
(3:27) 10. Touch Your Soul
(5:19) 11. Shine
(3:15) 12. Coming Around Again
(6:15) 13. Marche Loin (Pour Sara)
(3:36) 14. On Saturday Afternoons in 1963 - Bonus Track
(4:12) 15. A Horse Named Janis Joplin - Bonus Track
(4:28) 16. Jesse - Bonus Track

I ran my first 10K ever to these songs, on a cool morning in country backroads as mist lifted to reveal an early and golden morning. I ran my middle-aged, twice-cancered, arthritic, feminist, queer body to this album and Ian's voice. His music, his force and that of the glorious women he is channeling and championing here kept me going. This is an album of songs to run to and to crawl to. Here is music to sob to and anthems to change the world still so much world to change. Ian and I met on social media, we have friends in common, we met talking of the refugee crisis, we met because Ian was taking action about the refugee crisis. Taking action, no matter what. New takes, because we can. A new take on an old song for Joni Mitchell's always relevant Shine, reminding us that there are so many sides to truth, to every hurt. Light and dark, because there is not one without the other, no life without death, the dichotomy held here very gently, so we can allow the pain and not be broken by it. Keep Walking's true story of Ian's friend Sara. From Eritrea to Libya to Calais to Birmingham and the UK asylum system. A tale of someone else's pain, sustained in song, that we might feel it ourselves, maybe even feel it enough to make a difference. In action, there is hope. Ian's open-hearted version of This Beautiful Life is a full-throated call for a shining existence, and a vital panacea for the also-truth of Trip And Tumble's collapse, crumble, stumble from grace. Tanita Tikaram and Ian's Shine Sister Shine becomes a sing-a-long, march-along, dance-along paean to the LGBT community &ncash; so much achieved and still so far to go, both out in the world and among ourselves. Ian says the 'Sister' here is every gender and sexuality, all of us shining. Too many to list, but every one of these tracks offers a gift for the listener willing to let someone touch your soul. These are songs to hold us when we ask why, to promise that it's not only good to cry, but right to do so. They are also songs to prompt us when we ask how how do we make a difference, how do we create value in our individual lives, in a carry on world, starring everyone of us? This is an album crammed with sharp pain, deeply felt, then countered with soaring, resonant hope. Empire States Of Mind for all. We see what hurts, we cry the tears, and because we know there is also life, also light, we dig deep and find the strength to make a change. https://www.ianshaw.biz/p/albums/sister-about.php

Shine Sister Shine

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Ian Shaw - Change Partners

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 87:20
Size: 199.9 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:59] 1. Change Partners
[4:02] 2. It Could Happen To You
[3:03] 3. This Can't Be Love
[5:34] 4. The Echo Of A Song
[2:59] 5. I Wish I Were In Love Again
[4:15] 6. Goodnight Angel
[3:26] 7. I'll Be Seeing You
[3:22] 8. Taking A Chance On Love
[4:42] 9. My Heart Is Haunted
[5:35] 10. Time After Time
[3:59] 11. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[4:22] 12. You Are My Hearts Delight
[5:46] 13. It's Easy To Remember
[4:44] 14. Just Let Me Look At You
[5:17] 15. My Funny Valentine
[4:11] 16. Have You Met Miss Jones
[4:07] 17. Little Girl Blue
[3:24] 18. Where Or When
[3:37] 19. I Concentrate On You
[5:48] 20. With A Song In My Heart

Ian Shaw (born 2 June 1962) is a Welsh jazz singer, record producer, and stand up comedian. Shaw was born in St. Asaph, Wales, and took his music degree at the University of London. His career in performance began in the 1980s on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremner, and Jo Brand. At the same time, he was playing in piano bars and at festivals in London and throughout Europe.

In 1990 he toured Europe and recorded with fellow singer Carol Grimes. Since this time, Shaw has regularly worked in duo settings with other singers, including Claire Martin, Linda Lewis, Liane Carroll, and Sarah Jane Morris. By the mid-1990s, he was regularly performing at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and in 1995 released two albums on the club's Jazzhouse label: Ghosthouse and a tribute to Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart Taking It to Hart. In 1996, Shaw led his own 'Very Big Band' on a UK tour, and by the late 1990s he was performing regularly in the U.S. In 1999, he released In a New York Minute, the first of two albums on New York's Milestone Records label. This and Soho Stories, released in 2001, featured American musicians, including Cedar Walton, Lew Soloff, and Eric Alexander. On the album A World Still Turning (2003), he worked with Billy Childs and Peter Washington, and guest vocalist Mark Murphy.

Change Partners mc
Change Partners zippy

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Ian Shaw - A Ghost In Every Bar

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:17
Size: 118,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:29)  1. Feet Do Your Stuff
(3:46)  2. Only Why No More
(3:46)  3. Small Day Tomorrow
(6:32)  4. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
(2:48)  5. In a New York Minute
(3:00)  6. Love Go Round
(2:52)  7. In a Matter of Moments
(3:49)  8. Down
(2:48)  9. Nothing Is Mine Now
(1:54) 10. Scars
(3:45) 11. Stranger
(3:11) 12. Killing Time
(2:47) 13. Noir
(2:13) 14. Nothing Lasts Forever
(5:29) 15. Ballad of the Sad Young Men

Ian Shaw's warm and evocative voice, Fran Landesman's superb lyrics and music from some of her best collaborators: A Ghost In Every Bar has them all. Put it another way: on A Ghost In Every Bar one of the finest singers in contemporary music interprets some of the greatest songs of the last 50 years. If either or both of those descriptions sound like hype, that's OK; sometimes the hype hits the nail on the head. Landesman was born in New York in 1927, moved with her family to London in 1964 and died there on July 23, 2011. Around the mid-'80s a young Shaw was in a band called This Bed with Landesman's son. Miles. Shaw and Landesman met and became friends, while Shaw went on to develop his solo career and to record and perform many of Landesman's songs. While artists including Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand have recorded their own versions, Shaw's direct, emotionally honest, and very personal interpretations are the benchmark. On A Ghost In Every Bar Shaw performs songs which Landesman wrote with three of her many collaborators: Tommy Wolf, her first writing partner, who she met in '50s St Louis; singer and writer Bob Dorough; and British composer/pianist Simon Wallace, who accompanies Shaw on most of this album's songs. The singer has recorded some of these songs before most notably "Scars," on Somewhere Towards Love (Splash Point Records, 2009), and the title track of In A New York Minute (Milestone, 1999) (with Cedar Walton) but this album features new versions recorded in April, 2012.

Dorough co-wrote "Small Day Tomorrow," a joyous anticipation of the night before a day with nothing to do. Shaw sings his bluesy take on the song with obvious relish. Wallace was one of Landesman's final co-writers, collaborating between 1994 and 2011 on around 400 compositions. Twelve of his collaborations are on this album, including four ("Stranger," "Killing Time," "Nothing Lasts Forever" and "Noir") that have not previously been recorded. Shaw's performances of "Only Why No More" and "Scars" are heart-rending, while "Feet Do Your Stuff" and "Down" manage to be both cynical and funny at the same time. Wolf wrote the music for what are probably Landesman's two best known songs: "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" (apparently a jazz response to T. S. Elliot's assertion that "April is the cruelest month"). Shaw captures the sadness of both lyrics, heightening the emotion through a dignified approach which never asks for pity. The melancholy of "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" is emphasized by Sue Richardson's flugelhorn, which echoes Shaw's vocal. Landesman's stories have a universal emotional resonance. All human life is here, presented by a masterly vocalist with an empathic understanding of the lyrics. It's not always easy to listen to a Landesman song, but it's always worthwhile. Shaw ensures that the experience is a life-affirming one.
 
Personnel: Ian Shaw: vocals, piano (6, 7, 12); Simon Wallace: piano; Sue Richardson: flugelhorn (15).

A Ghost In Every Bar

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Ian Shaw - Taking It To Hart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:49
Size: 120.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1996/2007
Art: Front

[2:56] 1. I Wish I Were In Love Again
[3:26] 2. Where Or When
[4:15] 3. Have You Met Miss Jones
[3:56] 4. I Could Write A Book
[3:11] 5. My Romance/Any Old Place With You
[4:01] 6. Little Girl Blue
[6:09] 7. I Don't Know What Time It Was
[5:13] 8. My Funny Valentine
[1:38] 9. Blue Moon
[3:00] 10. This Can't Be Love
[5:15] 11. It Never Entered My Mind
[3:55] 12. This Funny World
[5:48] 13. With A Song In My Heart

This is my first encounter with singer Ian Shaw. He has a wide ranging voice, and handles high notes effortlessly but with a touch of idiosyncracy. The tone of the voice is not especially memorable, but he uses his instrument with considerable artistry and commitment. All the arrangements on this album are by Shaw's regular pianist, Adrian York, and in general they are very successful. Occasionally Shaw is joined by a female singer, and there is one number where all the assembled musicians provide a chorus. Some of the most enjoyable numbers, though, feature Adrian York only joined by a cellist. The numbers chosen for this CD are all familiar ones from the Rodgers and Hart catalog, although this would not be my first choice for someone coming to this repertoire for the first time. The performances are too ecclectic for that. The sound engineering is pretty good and always clear. ~David Saemann

Taking It To Hart

Friday, February 12, 2016

Ian Shaw - The Theory Of Joy (Deluxe Edition)

Size: 140,3 MB
Time: 61:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Small Day Tomorrow (3:13)
02. You Fascinate Me So (4:48)
03. In France They Kiss On Main Street (3:55)
04. Where Are We Now (5:29)
05. Everything (3:03)
06. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (5:03)
07. You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two (3:24)
08. My Brother (4:31)
09. All This And Betty Too (2:41)
10. Somewhere Towards Love (4:21)
11. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (5:27)
12. If You Go Away/Ne Me Quitte Pas (3:14)
13. The Shadow (Bonus Track) (4:22)
14. Born To Be Blue (Bonus Track) (2:41)
15. Last Man Alive (Bonus Track) (4:46)

This CD finds Ian Shaw not sitting in his apparently natural habitat at a piano, but having replaced his own accompaniment with an excellent trio. There is no doubt that Shaw is a good pianist, but this format seems to free him upto really focus on his vocal performance - which he does with accuracy and aplomb.

The 12 tracks on the CD version show an excellent mix of material from Bart to Bowie, plus three Shaw originals. The opening Small Day Tomorrow (a useful concept for the jazz enthusiast, staying up late as you only have a small day tomorrow) quickly opens up to allow Barry Green to sparkle on piano. Shaw's voice seems to have something of the light touch and agility of Joni Mitchell about it, and this becomes even more clear on the Canadian artist's own In France They Kiss On Main Street. The section in which Shaw sings over Mick Hutton's round-sounding bass and Dave Ohm's tight-yet-dynamic brushes is a particular delight.

The Bowie song is Where Are We Now, from 2013's The Next Day album. This is a wistful song, looking back with a little regret, and Shaw turns in an impassioned performance. The album was recorded in summer 2015 before the shock recent news of Bowie's death, and the number makes a very fitting tribute. Mick Hutton must surely produce the most sonorous double bass tone in London, and he uses it to great effect here and throughout the album. This reflective mood carries on into Legrand/Bergman/Bergman's How Do You Keep The Music Playing, a song of love an uncertainty looking into a long-term relationship which Shaw renders beautifully -tears in this listener's eyes at any rate.

The three original songs come grouped together towards the end of the album. My Brother, about Shaw's brother Gareth who died before Ian was born, is catchy and meaningful. It's been rightly receiving radio plays, which ties it in to Ian's work with refugees in Calais. All This And Betty Too is a jazz-filled romp with Shaw remembering listening to Betty Carter in Ronnie Scott's with Claire Martin, a long-term friend who also produced this album. A trio reworking of Somewhere Towards Love (chosen in its solo version as a Desert Island Disc by both Molly Parkin and Julian Clary) sees the song moving with a little more urgency, and it's great to get another way to hear it. As if to stress Shaw's versatility, we move from a pointed You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two (sung with social comment in mind, surely) to a closing If You Go Away/Ne Me Quitte Pas, in Brel-ish style over Green's solo accompaniment.

This collection has great variety, yet is defined at its core by four top-class musicians on their own terms. If, like me, you have enjoyed Ian Shaw's live performances but never yet taken the plunge with an album, this is a wonderful place to start. ~by Brian Blain

The Theory Of Joy

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Ian Shaw - Live At Ronnie Scott's: The Best Of Ian Shaw

Size: 136,5+195,8 MB
Time: 58:27+84:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals/Pop
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. I Concentrate On You (3:37)
02. My Heart Is Haunted (4:42)
03. It Could Happen To You (4:02)
04. It's Easy To Remember (5:41)
05. Just Let Me Look At You (4:48)
06. The Echo Of A Song (5:38)
07. Change Partners (4:59)
08. You Are My Hearts Delight (4:21)
09. Time After Time (5:35)
10. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (3:54)
11. Taking A Chance On Love (3:26)
12. I'll Be Seeing You (3:26)
13. Goodnight Angel (4:14)

CD 2:
01. Danny Boy (Live) ( 3:53)
02. Spinning Wheel (Live) ( 4:16)
03. When Sassy Sings (Live) ( 5:16)
04. Broken Blue Heart (Live) ( 5:11)
05. Me, Myself, I (Live) ( 4:52)
06. Some Other Time - People Will Say We're In Love (Live) ( 7:10)
07. Lover Man (Live) ( 6:55)
08. Calling You (Live) ( 6:42)
09. Sophisticated Lady - I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Live) ( 7:45)
10. Somewhere (Live) ( 4:22)
11. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live) (11:19)
12. Blame It On My Youth (Live) (11:12)
13. Lover Man (Live) ( 5:24)

Named Best Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2007 and 2004, Ian Shaw is one of the UK's finest male jazz vocalists. His exciting, edgy and provocative style has made him a popular name both at home and in the States.

Shaw's career in performance began unusually for a jazz musician on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremer and Jo Brand. Shaw was spotted by Dave Illic, jazz critic for City Limits and was described as "the voice of the decade." Shaw recorded an album with legendary English blues and rock artist Carol Grimes, Lazy Blue Eyes. Over the next two years Shaw moved from the singer-pianist format to working with his new band, Brave New World, co-formed with Adrian York. This band garnered a huge club and concert following playing such venues as the Hammersmith Odeon and Ronnie Scott's in the U.K.

His first solo album Ghostsongs, Live At Ronnie Scott's was described by The Wire magazine as "quite simply the year's finest release." Venturing boldly into jazz Shaw recorded a further two albums, Taking It To Hart (a tribute to Rodgers and Hart) and The Echo Of A Song (an album of love songs compiled by Shaw's mentor, Ronnie Scott.) Shaw toured extensively in the UK, Europe and the States, promoting these albums. His appearances on TV in the '90ss included guesting with Jools Holland, Pebble Mill, Top Of The Pops (Shaw wrote a song for the 1993 Children In Need), The Jack Dee Show, Christmas Night with the Stars (BBC), C4's The Happening, TVAM, BBC Breakfast Show, BBC 2's A Night of Love, BBC 2's Jazz at the 606 and, more recently, numerous appearances on the Performance and Artsworld channels. In the summer of 2002, Carlton/HTV made a documentary about Shaw.

His collaborators over the years have included Guy Barker, Mari Wilson, Ruby Turner, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Iain Ballamy, Mornington Lockett, Sarah Jane Morris, Tim Whitehead, Carol Grimes, Lol Coxhill, Phil Minton and Veryan Weston, Elton Dean, Fayaaz Virjii and Tony Remy (Jazz Warriors), Gail Thompson, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Joe Beck, Papa Vasquez, Lew Soloff, David Williams, Judi Silvano, Geoffrey Williams, Bobby Hutcherson and Ray Brown.

Shaw's ongoing and highly popular collaboration is a celebrated duet show with Claire Martin, the UK's finest female jazz singer. He guested on her album Too Darn Hot. Together they have toured the world in an intimate duo setting with Shaw playing piano or sometimes with the BBC Radio Big Band, a band with whom, over the last six years, Shaw has cemented a highly popular musical relationship. He has played the Harrogate International Festival with the Big Band along with concerts all over the UK including Stoke, BBC Leeds Live, to the Cork International Jazz Festival in 2002 where Shaw made his festival debut with this internationally acclaimed radio big band. His concert and festival appearances have been numerous.

In 2002 Shaw performed in Jerry Springer, the Opera, by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee . Thomas created the part of the warm-up man/devil for Shaw. Shaw is a regular on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 as well as this year contributing to Behind the Mask with Alison Moyet, on Jazz FM (U.K.)

Nominated two years running for Best Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards, Ian Shaw has recorded 8 highly-acclaimed albums. This year, 2003, saw Ian on a national tour with the world-famous Brodsky String Quartet. The Brodsky Song Album features Ian alongside Sting, Elvis Costello, Bjørk, Paul McCartney and Jacqui Dankworth.

Named Best Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2007 and 2004, Ian Shaw is one of the UK's finest male jazz vocalists. His exciting, edgy and provocative style has made him a popular name both at home and in the States.

Shaw's career in performance began unusually for a jazz musician on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremer and Jo Brand. Shaw was spotted by Dave Illic, jazz critic for City Limits and was described as "the voice of the decade." Shaw recorded an album with legendary English blues and rock artist Carol Grimes, Lazy Blue Eyes. Over the next two years Shaw moved from the singer-pianist format to working with his new band, Brave New World, co-formed with Adrian York. This band garnered a huge club and concert following playing such venues as the Hammersmith Odeon and Ronnie Scott's in the U.K.

His first solo album Ghostsongs, Live At Ronnie Scott's was described by The Wire magazine as "quite simply the year's finest release." Venturing boldly into jazz Shaw recorded a further two albums, Taking It To Hart (a tribute to Rodgers and Hart) and The Echo Of A Song (an album of love songs compiled by Shaw's mentor, Ronnie Scott.) Shaw toured extensively in the UK, Europe and the States, promoting these albums. His appearances on TV in the '90ss included guesting with Jools Holland, Pebble Mill, Top Of The Pops (Shaw wrote a song for the 1993 Children In Need), The Jack Dee Show, Christmas Night with the Stars (BBC), C4's The Happening, TVAM, BBC Breakfast Show, BBC 2's A Night of Love, BBC 2's Jazz at the 606 and, more recently, numerous appearances on the Performance and Artsworld channels. In the summer of 2002, Carlton/HTV made a documentary about Shaw.

His collaborators over the years have included Guy Barker, Mari Wilson, Ruby Turner, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Iain Ballamy, Mornington Lockett, Sarah Jane Morris, Tim Whitehead, Carol Grimes, Lol Coxhill, Phil Minton and Veryan Weston, Elton Dean, Fayaaz Virjii and Tony Remy (Jazz Warriors), Gail Thompson, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Joe Beck, Papa Vasquez, Lew Soloff, David Williams, Judi Silvano, Geoffrey Williams, Bobby Hutcherson and Ray Brown.

Shaw's ongoing and highly popular collaboration is a celebrated duet show with Claire Martin, the UK's finest female jazz singer. He guested on her album Too Darn Hot. Together they have toured the world in an intimate duo setting with Shaw playing piano or sometimes with the BBC Radio Big Band, a band with whom, over the last six years, Shaw has cemented a highly popular musical relationship. He has played the Harrogate International Festival with the Big Band along with concerts all over the UK including Stoke, BBC Leeds Live, to the Cork International Jazz Festival in 2002 where Shaw made his festival debut with this internationally acclaimed radio big band. His concert and festival appearances have been numerous.

In 2002 Shaw performed in Jerry Springer, the Opera, by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee . Thomas created the part of the warm-up man/devil for Shaw. Shaw is a regular on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 as well as this year contributing to Behind the Mask with Alison Moyet, on Jazz FM (U.K.)

Nominated two years running for Best Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards, Ian Shaw has recorded 8 highly-acclaimed albums. This year, 2003, saw Ian on a national tour with the world-famous Brodsky String Quartet. The Brodsky Song Album features Ian alongside Sting, Elvis Costello, Bjørk, Paul McCartney and Jacqui Dankworth.

Live At Ronnie Scott's: The Best Of Ian Shaw CD 1
Live At Ronnie Scott's: The Best Of Ian Shaw CD 2