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Juliet discovered her talent for singing whilst studying for an economics degree at university but it took some time before she found her musical identity... "Although many of my peers were recording albums of standards, I waited until I felt I'd developed my own sound and eventually recorded my debut album which was mostly original material. Although I love jazz standards, I wanted to share my own perspective of jazz-influenced music - music that can appeal to a younger and more diverse audience as well as to more mainstream jazz fans." Juliet recorded her debut album Aphrodite's Child (33 Records) in 2003. It featured Juliet's original songs and garnered excellent reviews from critics in the UK and the US as well as widespread radio airplay. A successful UK tour followed with sell-out and capacity audiences at venues across the country. Her songwriting ability has also been widely praised and she took honours in the jazz category of the 2004 International Songwriting Competition. In 2005, Juliet performed with top UK jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine in a live broadcast for BBC4's Jazz Britannia season at the Barbican. This was followed by two successful sell-out concerts in Russia and her debut US performance that took place at New York's Sweet Rhythm jazz club. Juliet's second album, Delicious Chemistry (Chantiko), further showcased her talents for writing laid-back, accessible jazz. The album - which was released at the end of 2005 - featured her regular band that included Mercury award-winning drummer Seb Rochford and a guest appearance from Courtney Pine. Juliet also appeared as a guest vocalist on Courtney Pine's album Resistance in the same year. In 2006 Juliet opened for the Grammy-award winning vocal group Take 6 as part of the London Jazz Festival at the Barbican and saw demand for her accessible jazz spread overseas leading to more sell-out shows in Germany, Greece and Russia. Licorice Kiss (Purple Stiletto) released in 2009, is Juliet's third album. Referencing influences as diverse as Soul II Soul, the Eurythmics and Soft Cell, she offers up her own take on some 80's classics alongside her own creations that range from toe-tapping grooves to latin-inflected ballads. Juliet ended 2009 with an Arts Council sponsored tour around the UK and a sell-out show at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London for the London Jazz Festival. More sell-out shows followed at Christmas in Athens and in March 2010, Juliet delighted a capacity audience at the Philharmonic Hall in Ulan-Ude, Eastern Siberia. 2011 has seen Juliet attracting a new Asian fanbase with four very well received club dates in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and she has also been booked to play four festivals in Greece with the Dimitri Vassilakis Quartet throughout the summer.  Worked with musicians ... Courtney Pine, Talvin Singh, Jim Mullen, John Etheridge, Gary Crosby, Orphy Robinson, Alex Wilson, Seb Rochford, Dimitri Vassilakis, Tony Kofi, Kate Williams, Gareth Williams, Tony Remy, Jason Yarde, Byron Wallen, Omar Puente, Roger Beaujolais, Carleen Anderson, Julie Dexter... Press Quotes... "an original talent rare amongst those who would call themselves jazz singers" JAZZWISE "With her honey-tone vocals, insightful, personal lyrics, savvy original songs and intelligent choice of covers, she effortlessly mixes jazz, soul, pop and funk... one of the UK's finest singers in any genre."TIME OUT "An astute mix of new songs and enlightening covers... full of sophisticated funkiness and sumptuous multi-layered vocals."YORKSHIRE EVENING POST "Like most long-loved albums Delicious Chemistry demands repeated listening... you'll want to play it to everyone you know." BBC MUSIC "Delicious Chemistry is one of the most innovative, personal and moving jazz records I have heard in ages." JAZZ NOT JAZZ "A young Londoner with film star looks, Juliet Kelly serves up a good first recording that begs for listening by adherents of jazz and pop-jazz." DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE (US) "It’s a cliche to talk of an assured debut, but Ms Kelly demonstrates frightening maturity, writing, producing and performing as if she’d been doing it for years." RONNIE SCOTT'S MAGAZINE "[one of] the UK's finest female jazz stars" JAZZWISE "one to watch" THE INDEPENDENT (The Five Best Gigs) "Wonderfully soulful, velvet-voiced singer - one of the jazz scene's best kept secrets" TIME OUT "An excellent album" HUMPHREY LYTTLETON, BBC RADIO 2 "An impressive debut CD from this highly distinctive singer, whose warm tones and engaging delivery bring these songs to life." JAZZ UK "A highly recommended album" JAZZ CONNECTION, BBC RADIO WALES "[A] full-bodied, richly complex vocal timbre, complex vocal timbre, combining a honeyed sweetness with flashes of steel... Her talent is clear." JAZZWISE "Ms. Kelly has a warm, rich, lush, natural instrument... the album casts a luminous spell, with mesmerizing rhythms and haunting lyrics. With this auspicious a debut, Ms. Kelly is a talent whose future contributions will be eagerly awaited." ALL ABOUT JAZZ "Soulful, dignified, somewhat Cleo Laine-like..." THE GUARDIAN "Like so many great jazz songstresses, her voice is powerful but always in control… Her entire performance gives an air of perfection without the perception of over-preparation." JAZZREVIEW.COM "A natural communicator. She sings a song sweetly and simply… and it works like a dream." ROGER VAN SCHAICK, OXFORD TIMES What the musicians say..."Every now and then a new voice with a fresh attitude arrives on the jazz scene, that voice is here within the soul of Juliet Kelly ... The new voice on the UK jazz scene." DR COURTNEY PINE C.B.E (Saxophonist) "Juliet has a unique approach to singing; intimate, rhythmic and relaxed, with a smooth, rich voice, great intonation, and an uncliched approach to improvisation." CARL ORR (Guitarist) "Juliet Kelly has a great voice and sings from her heart, combining an ear to the contemporary with a deep love for the jazz tradition."SIMON PURCELL (Pianist) "Juliet has a beautiful presence and a beautiful voice which mysteriously manages to be both dark and light at the same time."TESSA SOUTER (Vocalist) "Juliet sings beautifully. Her ballad singing is hauntingly sensual and her tunes are great too.A sensitive and emotional vocalist with sophisticated phrasing." CHRISTIAN BREWER (Saxophonist) "Juliet has a beautiful voice. A combinatino of lovely tone and great control. She is a beautiful, talented jazz singer and she knocked me when I heard her singing." FREDDIE KING (Vocalist) "Juliet has a dynamic voice. She has a rich tone and a great sense of time. Her band is a real swinging unit and the choice of repertoire stands out from the crowd. Great originals." JAMI SHERIFF (Pianist) What the audience / listeners say..."Juliet .. just got home after your gig in Maidstone. Wonderful evening. Very intimate venue; sitting so close to you and the band was a real joy. Your 'I wish you love' number really plucked at the heart strings .. one of the ladies I was with lost her husband a few months ago, and she was deeply moved by the lyrics." Mark, Maidstone, UK "I have just received Delicious Chemistry, which I ordered through the web-site. Absolutely brilliant. Many congratulations, Juliet, on a masterpiece." Ken, London, UK "Saw you at the Bulls Head last Sunday Have been waiting for this since I saw you on tv - Jazz Britannia at the Barbican. You are even better in the flesh!" Ray, Twickenham, UK "There's a lot of great music trapped in the walls of the 'Bulls Head' - if only we could unlock it. You added to it last night. Two sets of great music delivered with charm and energy. You shined even through the poor lighting and connected so well. Lovely trio, lovely night - thanks." Frank & Christine, Uxbridge, UK "Really enjoyed your gig at the Eastside last night. I would have bought a CD, but I was bit low on cash, but will do in the very near future! Lovely voice, please come again." Ian, London, UK "Juliet, I wasn't much into Jazz until I heard your CD... Les Nubians got me interested but you Juliet have got me hooked on jazz." Mo, London, UK "I just got the CD this week. I live every song. I am looking forward to the next CD." MJ, Columbia, MD, USA "Saw you perform in Sheffield a few weeks ago, thanks for a great evening- you're very talented, my friend and I really enjoyed your music. So much so that at the end of the gig we spoke to you and i think we were perhaps a little sycophantic!" Wesley, Sheffield, UK "Saw and heard you at Hifi Club last night, you have a lovely voice- keep singing. The website is really well designed too!" Rebecca, Leeds, UK "Have enjoyed your music Juliet. Look forward to seeing you perform live. You have what it takes to go far TALENT which shines through in your songs." Richard, Northern Ireland, UK "Thanx 4 a great gig last night in Bedford. Great music from a great quartet. Some lovely songs of heartache and yearning, but I'm fantasising now about a Punk cover version of Garden of Eden!" Kevin, Milton Keynes, UK "Went to the gig Sat, got the cd, where's the t-shirt? played the cd over and over again. Love the lyrics. Interesting arrangement of a classic. Great band,please lets see you again." Martin, Bedford, UK |
www.julietkelly.com/
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