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Tuesday 15 December 2009

Forthcoming gigs - January and February

Following a successful run in 2008 at Pizza on the Park, I will be returning there with my quartet for two dates only. Live jazz may well be a thing of the past at Pizza on the Park following talks in mid-2010 about the lease of the venue, so this could be the last chance to catch my quartet at this historic venue.
Thursday 7th January
Pizza on the Park, 11 Knightsbridge
Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner
Music from 8:30; doors open 7pm
£15 on the door
For more information visit www.geddesentertainments.com
Thursday 18th February
Pizza on the Park, 11 Knightsbridge
Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner
Music from 8:30; doors open 7pm
£15 on the door
For more information visit www.geddesentertainments.com

NEWS - November and December

The most exciting news during these two months is that I have been awarded funding from Jazz Services for my UK Tour next year, which will be to promote my new album. The tour will see my quartet and me visit venues in Bristol, Cambridge, Swindon, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Kendal, Scarborough, Hull, Leeds, and many more including a long drive to Berwick-upon-Tweed, and probably a shorter flight to Jersey!
The tour will take place in April, May and June, and the tour schedule will be up on my website before the end of January.
In order to secure these gigs, I have spent most of November on the Internet/my phone acting as my own agent in order to meet the Jazz Services funding deadline at the end of November. Therefore, there aren't many gigs to report on, but the ones I did do are definitely worth the blog-space, so here goes...
October 31st - Mark Armstrong Big Band, Wycombe Swan
A wonderful group of musicians, a wonderful theatre, and a wonderful opportunity to sing with a big band again, now that I no longer have NYJO to regularly feature with. I truly miss fronting a big band, as it's the first jazz experience I ever had, so it will always be my favourite kind of jazz singing.
As always, it was a pleasure to sing with Mark's band - he's a fantastic arranger, and had put together a very enjoyable program: for both the band and the audience.
I was thrilled that on that evening, pianist Simon Wallace kindly gave me a songbook of songs that he has written with Fran Landesman. I've been enjoying getting to know them. Certain songs, e.g. "When Your Computer Crashes" will certainly be entertaining the family at the Christmas sing-song!
November 6th - Mark Armstrong Quintet at Blackheath Halls
This evening was in aid of Epilepsy Research, and a very successful evening it was too. Blackheath Halls was packed, and hundreds of pounds were raised for the charity.
November 29th - Tomorrow's Face at Bull's Head
The Bull's Head in Barnes is a great venue. Lovely piano, lovely acoustics, lovely pub and Thai restaurant attached. NYJO's Tomorrow's Face (the small band) play there once every two months on a Sunday evening. The music is always brilliant - NYJO-influenced high-adrenaline tunes played by a small ensemble of 9 musicians is incredibly stimulating. Even more so, you know that you are watching the cream of London's musicians, who are the future of British jazz. So why do we struggle for an audience?! It's only a short (very short) walk from Barnes Bridge station, and the afore-mentioned lovely piano/acoustics/pub/Thai food/musicians should be enough to secure at least half a room full. But alas.
This is a door-take gig, meaning that if we're lucky we'll make a tenner each which will just about cover travel and an interval drink, never mind our fee for playing!!
So if you're reading this, please spread the word that NYJO's Tomorrow's Face will next be at the Bull's Head on Sunday 31st January.
13th December - Jazz Duo at La Porte Des Indes
I used to sing every Sunday at La Porte Des Indes - a gorgeous Indian restaurant near Marble Arch. Then came the dreaded credit crunch, and we were demoted to once a fortnight, then to not at all! This Christmas, we have been booked for two weeks only. Unfortunately, I have only been able to make one of these, as the second coincides with a short weekend break. So, if any of you fancy a bit of the best Indian food I have ever tasted, pop down next Sunday (20th December) and witness some jazz courtesy of pianist Martin Blackwell plus guest singer.
Better still, why not call up with the following conversation?:
"Hello, I'd like to book a table for January... for (6) people. We'd like to sit near the jazz musicians."
"I'm sorry, we no longer have jazz at this restaurant."
"Well I don't want to come then."
Help to re-instate us!
Thanks for reading my November and December news.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Studio Recording v Live Performance

Studio recording is an entirely different art to performing live. When performing live one can engage with an audience, and can change the performance according to the audience's reaction. Hand movements and facial expressions enhance certain parts of the music, as well as adding to the meaning of lyrics.
Therefore, without the help of hand movements, facial expressions, and the live 'buzz,' a recording session must somehow capture the magic of performance whilst being as musically perfect as possible (this is, after all, an immortalisation of one's songs). It's difficult!
Another problem that a singer must overcome is to listen to themselves on record and accept its sound. There aren't many singers, particularly in jazz, who will tell you that they prefer listening to their recordings than singing live. Somehow, a live performance is always 'easier,' and a recorded session needs 100 more percent effort to come across with the same intensity of delivery. One thing that has made me realise this particularly is that when watching videos of myself on YouTube (for learning purposes, not as a vain hobby!!), my perception of the performance is far less when listening to audio only. It seems that, when watching the picture, one can forgive any mishaps in the music, but when the picture is taken away, the ear is not so forgiving.
So, in time, I will learn to enjoy listening to myself on recording - either by accepting that that's just how I sound on tape, or by striving to achieve a 'live' sound in a recording studio.

Monday 26 October 2009

Forthcoming gigs - November and December

I'm very excited about two forthcoming gigs collaborating with the brilliant arranger/composer/trumpeter/band leader Mark Armstrong. You can view all the gig details at www.sarahellenhughes.co.uk/gigs, or please find below a chronological list.
Saturday 31st October (that's practically November!)
Wycombe Swan with the Mark Armstrong Big Band.
Charity gig.
7:30 start, £20/15/10 tickets.
Friday 6th November
Blackheath Halls with the Mark Armstrong Quartet.
Charity gig.
8pm start, £35 (which includes a £20 donation to the charities)
Sunday 29th November
The Bull's Head, Barnes, with NYJO's Tomorrow's Face.
8:30 start, £10 entry.

Sunday 25 October 2009

NEWS: September - October 2009

I've had an interesting two months - I've had my turn at being a visiting singer with various house bands and jam sessions.
I started September by singing with the Barry Green trio at the Spice of Life. You can read a review of my performance by clicking here. It was a wonderful night of music, and well supported by friends, family and jazz fans alike. The Spice of Life has a great basement bar/jazz club, and the jazz nights (Wednesday and Thursday) are the highlight of a busy week of nightly music. Fantastic singers are featured each Wednesday night, and there frequent open mics to showcase your talent in this reputable venue.
I twice had the pleasure of singing on stage at Ronnie Scott's, unfortunately not yet in my own right, but firstly as an invited guest during a set from Derek Nash, and then again as an invited guest with the house band after the Worshipful Company of Musician's annual young jazz musician competition. Very enjoyable!
Another highlight was singing as a guest with King Candy and the Sugar Push at the A-Train in Hammersmith, which is a weekly Thursday night swing dance club. I had just 3 days to learn 2 sets of swing dance songs - which was a great challenge, but very enjoyable. Singing the likes of Anita O'Day and the Andrews Sisters was great fun, and I hope they'll ask me to join them again one day soon.
Moving into October, I visited Mycenae House one Monday evening to sing a couple of tunes with the house band. I was incredibly impressed with the wonderful piano playing of Phil Mead, and the bass of Dave Moses. It was great to get up to sing with a house band who knew my chosen songs so well - there was a lot of musical freedom which isn't always achievable without rehearsal. I hope to be there again before too long.
The following Monday saw me at the King's Head in Bexley for Bexley Jazz club - appearing once again as Derek Nash's guest. I had the pleasure of singing 4 songs with the house band which features the amazing bassist Joe Mudele. He's had an incredible career and is still going strong at 80-something. A great privilege to sing alongside.
So that's the news so far for September and October. November and December appear to be just as promising, as they'll be packed full of promotional work for my forthcoming debut album. More news to come in December!
Thanks for reading
Sarah .x

Monday 12 October 2009

Earl Okin Review

Last Monday, I went to see the incredible Earl Okin, and write a review on his performance for LondonJazz. Coincidentally, the following night I was talking to my pianist and he asked if I had heard of this amazing guy... Earl Okin?! He's obviously the man of the moment. Read my review here: http://londonjazz.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-earl-okin.html

Monday 5 October 2009

Sarah Ellen Hughes sings with the Mark Armstrong big band

On Saturday 31st October I'll be singing with Mark Armstrong's big band at the Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe. Also featured will be the phenomenal Atila Huseyin - 'more Sinatra than Sinatra.'
All details can be found on the Wycombe Swan website which is here:
This will be a marvelous night of music making, with all proceeds going to 3 excellent charities. Please come and support us!

Sunday 27 September 2009

Review - Eva Abraham

I've been invited by Sebastian Scotney of the LondonJazz blog to add to his collection of reviewers. I'm focussing on singers, as Sebastian is interested to hear my point of view from a singer's perspective. Last week, I went to see Eva Abraham at the Jazz Cafe. My review can be read here: http://londonjazz.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-eva-abraham.html

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Cool Bandzoogle website of the day

Yesterday my website - www.sarahellenhughes.co.uk - was voted 'Cool Bandzoogle Website of the Day' (bandzoogle is the company that owns the website program).
I've given it a make-over so it's more accessible and interesting. I've got a guestbook so if you wish to comment on this then please do!

Sunday 13 September 2009

Singing Pop - Undermining Jazz?

I'm just recovering from a pop gig, although from where the band was standing it was more funk. As a jazz singer I guess I used to be opposed to singing in the pop style - as doesn't that 'undermine' one's integrity as a jazz artisit? But I've got used to it, in terms of being expected to be able to sing pop when requested - as a professional singer I have learnt that I need to be versatile enough to translate my voice into a variety of styles without the listener thinking: "Isn't she a jazz singer trying to sing pop?"
I've also learnt that the more I sing it, the better I get at it, and the more I enjoy it. A happy circle!
As well as that, the better the musicians around you, the more I am likely to elaborate upon the original melody or words, giving it the 'Sarah Ellen Hughes' treatment! That's always enjoyable, and that was certainly the case last night.
I've grown to accept that the chord sequences aren't particularly daring or interesting in some pop tunes (although Just the two of us is always a surprising treat) - and I guess the rest of the band think the same too - but the delight being able to groove along to a bit of Stevie Wonder or Abba and not quite knowing where it's going is certainly worth a break from my jazz repertoire.
So is singing pop undermining jazz? - I certainly don't think so, and neither, it seemed, did the audience!
SEH - Sunday 13th September - 2pm - still in pyjamas!