In the past few years singer Sarah Moule has established a rapidly growing reputation as one of Britain's most exciting new jazz vocal talents. Her latest CD, 'A Lazy Kind Of Love' (Red Ram Records RAM001), marks a new direction in her choice of material, including songs from unusual sources such as Julie Burchill, Clive James/Pete Atkin and Madonna's brother-in-law, composer and producer, Joe Henry, as well as continuing her ongoing musical relationship with legendary American Beat lyricist Fran Landesman and British composer and pianist Simon Wallace. 'A Lazy Kind Of Love' spotlights Sarah's interpretations, complementing them with exceptional playing from her regular trio, Simon Wallace, Mark Hodgson and Paul Robinson, and guests Alec Dankworth, Mike Outram, Alan Barnes, Paul Clarvis and Pete Atkin.
Sarah's previous recordings include two releases for Linn Records the first of which was her highly acclaimed debut CD 'It's A Nice Thought' (AKD192, 2002) - a collection of new songs by Fran Landesman and Simon Wallace, whom The Observer dubbed "one of the finest songwriting partnerships alive". The songs are literate, often witty and ruthlessly honest about human foibles, and lend themselves perfectly to Sarah's emotionally direct vocal style.
This was followed in 2004 by 'Something's Gotta Give' (AKD239, 2004), which married further new material by Landesman/Wallace with classic songs by one of the greatest of the American Songbook lyricists, Johnny Mercer. As always Sarah is surrounded by some of the best British jazz musicians, including Jim Mullen, Pete Wareham, Matt & Steve Fishwick and Steve Waterman.
Born into a large family on the south coast of England, after university Sarah soon traded the refined atmosphere of Bloomsbury publishers Jonathan Cape for extensive travels in steamy tropical locations. On returning to London in the early 1990s she met jazz singers Ian Shaw and Claire Martin who introduced her to Simon Wallace also recently returned to London after several years writing for the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and touring with the equally steamy Lindsay Kemp Company.
"As soon as Simon played me the songs he'd been writing with Fran I knew I wanted to sing them.” says Sarah. “They resonated with me, musically and lyrically, great tunes and lyrics that seemed to be about how we live today and the emotional highs and lows we all have to deal with. I immediately started singing them on the gigs I was doing in Soho and haven't stopped since".
Around this time Sarah began to explore the music of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington along with the late-night lifestyle of the London jazz musician while continuing her vocal studies with ex-English National Opera soloist Kenneth Woollam. She soon established a solid reputation for herself on the London jazz scene singing regularly at the 606 Club, The Vortex, Pizza Express Jazz Club, The Pizza On The Park and guesting at Ronnie Scott's Club. She has performed with many stalwarts of British jazz including: Ian Shaw, Claire Martin, Iain Ballamy, Tim Whitehead, Tim Garland, Steve Waterman and John Critchinson with whom she toured the Mediterranean with 'A Tribute To Ronnie Scott', performing opposite the legendary bebop duo Jackie & Roy. She was featured vocalist with the John Wilson Orchestra throughout the 1990s, performing extensively with them, which included a concert for Her Majesty the Queen at the Royal College Of Music and recording their eponymous debut cd, 'This Is The John Wilson Orchestra'.
In 2005 Sarah made her broadcasting debut with the BBC Concert Orchestra for BBC Radio 2's 'Friday Night Is Music Night', performing orchestral arrangements of songs from 'Something's Gotta Give'. Her television credits include The Paul O'Grady Show, Lenny Henry in Pieces and The Ben Elton Show. She has also been featured vocalist with bandleader John C. Williams' Rockin' In Rhythm septet, specialising in the songs of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and performed with them at St David's Hall, Cardiff in 2002 for the Welsh Proms. That year she and the group also premiered a suite of newly commissioned pieces by John Mayer, Barbara Thompson, Nikki Iles, Simon Wallace and Dick Walters at Leasowes Bank Arts Festival in Shropshire.
Sarah performs in jazz clubs, theatres and festivals throughout the UK. Projects for 2009 included a show with singer/songwriter Pete Atkin, 'BRIGHT LIGHTS TONIGHT', which premiered at the Dulwich Festival and a new show 'THE SONGS OF PEGGY LEE’ for the London Jazz Festival. 2010 will see Sarah make her Southbank Centre debut as a featured artist, when she takes part in A NIGHT OUT WITH FRAN LANDESMAN, together with actors Imelda Staunton and Phil Daniels and jazz musician Bob Dorough, composer Simon Wallace and Fran Landesman herself.
Sarah's new CD "A Lazy Kind Of Love" (Red Ram Records, 23rd June 2008) |
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