Plymouth Gin Jazz Weekend

Anita Wardell Quartet
Friday7th November
Time: 8.30pm
Tickets £20 (Includes complimentary Plymouth Gin Cocktails)

Barceló Torquay Imperial Hotel
2 Parkhill Rd
Torquay
TQ1 2DG

Enquiries:
www.clubtq.com Tel: 08444 99 1818
www.englishriviera.co.uk Tel: 01803 296296

Jazz vocalist Anita Wardell has been acclaimed for the unique artistry she brings to scat and be-bop singing. Raves from peers and critics alike have cemented her reputation as one of Britain’s finest vocalists.

Born in Guildford, UK, Anita emigrated to Australia with her family as child. Enraptured by movie musicals on TV, she soaked up the classics by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter. Equipped with a portable tape player, she would record the songs off the set and listen to them countless times.
Anita’s recording career began in 1995 with her CD, Why do you Cry? Featuring pianist Liam Noble. Vocal bebop pioneer Mark Murphy proclaimed Anita, "a gift from Australia", adding "what hits me is how expressive her ballad singing is. Then she has the courage to scat a ballad or two, not unlike a young lady disciple of the Ben Webster school."
In 1998 she released Straight Ahead with international star pianist Jason Rebello. Japan’s most popular jazz publication, Swing Journal, gave its endorsement, writing, "she's the real thing who can fluently scat and vocalese!" Her longstanding musical relationship with pianist Robin Aspland started with the release of “Until the stars fade” in 2001 also featuring the exciting US drummer Gene Calderazzo and Jeremy Brown on bass. At this point Jazzwise Magazine called her "energetic and inventive" while The Guardian proclaimed her "a model of the Jazz singer's art, highlighting her clarity, improvisational skills and emotional resonance. In 2004 she teamed up with Tenor Saxophonist Benn Clatworthy and recorded If You Never Come to Me. The recent signing to Specific Jazz (a division of Proper Records) and the winning of the prestigious BBC Jazz Award for Best of Jazz 2006 are now propelling Anita into the major artist arena. Noted, her first release for the new label (released in July 2006), is a collection of well known material from the Blue Note era to which Anita has penned many of her own lyrics. It received much radio play and 4 and 5 star reviews from UK and European jazz publications". 2008 sees the release of her new album “Kinda Blue” featuring Robin Aspland - Piano, Jeremy Brown - Bass, Steve Brown - Drums, Tristan Mailliot - Drums and special guests. This year Anita will be touring extensively throughout the UK and worldwide.