CLAIRE MARTIN:
CELEBRITIES OF THE YEAR: FROM THE MOST BORING TO THE MOST TALENTED
MOST TALENTED AND LUCKIEST CELEBRITIES
CLAIRE MARTIN: She reigns as the queen of romantic Jazz!
Biography Synopsis: She was born in Wimbledon, England, in 1967 and grew up amid the steamy rock n roll fever of that era. She attended the Doris Holford Stage School. Claire Martin was only six year old when she entered a theatrical school. By her early teens, Claire had been nominated and named twice as the Best Solo Vocalist by the British Arts Awards. And like all the other superstars, Claire Martin had to prove herself, suffer, question her future, meet life's ups and downs, work odd jobs, support herself as a secretary and as a singing waitress. But, one day, this hard working young girl and trooper will become United Kingdom's Queen of Jazz, the Best Jazz Singer of 1995 and the New Jazz Artist of 1994. In 1995, Claire performed for the first time in Washington, DC and received glowing reviews in The Washington Post. In October 1996, she made her debut in New York City. She took the audience, the Americans, New York and all its damned neon, lights and bridges by storm. And the rest is history. This woman is fascinating. She is blessed with an unsurpassed talent, a magnificent soaring and roaring voice, a mesmerizing beauty, a pure English humour and warm personality. And on the top, she is humble. And this humility is frightening, for it is real and touching. Claire Martin reached instant success and became known as the "New Voice of the Decade" when she recorded her debut album "The Waiting Game", which was selected by the "Times" as one of the best albums of the year. In the same year, Claire Martin opened for Tony Bennet at the Glasgow Jazz Festival. And before the glory knocked at her door, Claire Martin worked for ten years as singer at QE2 and the Cunard Princess. She returned home and at 21, she created her first quarter featuring the legendary guitarist Jim Mullen and pianist virtuoso John Gee. How did she manage to make those two fabulous maestri join her band remains a mystery. In 1991, Claire Martin appeared at "Pizza On The Park" and mesmerized everybody. Phill Hobbs, producer of "Linn Records" was there, in the audience. It did not take him long before he offered Claire a record deal. Boom! Claire is on! The Album is a huge success. A sparkling start to pave the way to three more highly successful albums. Everybody in her entourage and all those who heard Claire Martin knew de facto, this young and beautifully striking artist was on her way to world stardom.
er official biography includes the following: In March 1996 Claire appeared as guest vocalist with Martin Taylor and sang alongside legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli who said "Claire Martin is a wonderful artist, she swings and has such warmth to her voice". Claire won the British Jazz Awards as Best Vocalist in 1997. In 1998, Claire's next record produced by guitar ace Paul Stacey featured Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame playing on a beautiful rendition of the Beatles classic "Help". Later that year Claire was fortunate enough to meet Paul McCartney and deliver her re-working by hand! This album entitled "Take My Heart" also featured Jason Rebello and Mornington Lockett alongside a worldclass line up of top British jazz musicians. The second collaboration with Paul Stacey resulted in "Perfect Alibi" her seventh album for Linn Records and released in 2000. One of the many highlights from this recording is the duet with cult singer/songwriter John Martyn who has become a close friend. Claire won the Best Vocalist category in the 2000 British Jazz Awards, for > the third time. Also in 2000 Claire started presenting the jazz magazine show "Jazz Line Up" for BBC Radio 3. Among the musician's she has met and interviewed are; Michael Brecker, Tania Maria, Andre Previn, Joe Locke, Hugh Masekela, Mike Stern and Pat Martino. In 2001 Claire released "Every Now and Then", The Very Best of Claire Martin - with personally chosen tracks from all the previous seven recordings. Touring took her and her band to the Far East, Europe and Australia, with festivals in Germany, France, The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Canada. The Claire Martin Quartet were the first ever jazz group to perform in Vietnam as part of a festival organized by the British Council. Early into 2002 Claire won her fourth award as Best Vocalist at the British Jazz Awards. Her latest release "Too Darn Hot" was regarded by John Fordham as "her best and most ambitious disc" in the Guardian. Produced by Richard Cottle "Too Darn Hot" features the cream of British talent and features Nigel Hitchcock, Gareth Williams, Laurence Cottle, Clark Tracey and Ian Thomas. Special guest artists include pianist Geoffrey Keezer and two string arrangements by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett played by the Tapestry String Quartet. The Observer named it CD of the week. In July 2003 the third BBC Jazz Awards named Claire Vocalist of the year. "Talented and hip beyond her years.... the most exciting jazz star to soar to my attention in a decade" Rex Reed - The New York Observer.
Grosso modo: Claire Martin reigns as the queen of romantic Jazz!