Described by the New York Observer as "talented and hip beyond her years" and acclaimed as "the best ever British jazz singer" in a recent issue of America’s leading jazz publication Jazz Times, Claire Martin was born to sing.
Born in Wimbledon, South London, in 1967 Claire Martin was born to sing. Growing up in a house full of music, she loved Judy Garland and learned all her songs by the time she was 12. But it was hearing Ella Fitzgerald's legendary "Song Books" that changed her life inspiring her to go to Stage School and then to study singing in London and New York. A further seminal moment came at 18 when she saw the great improvising singer Betty Carter at Ronnie Scott's. It confirmed what she already felt - she had to be a jazz singer. Like many singers Martin paid her dues and learnt her craft by embarking on the QE2, singing in the Theatre Bar for two years
Back on dry land and just 21, Martin formed her first quartet (featuring guitar-great Jim Mullen). Her break came when renowned Scottish jazz label Linn signed her in 1991, the start of a creative relationship that is still going strong today. Rightly acclaimed as the outstanding voice of her generation, Martin's 1992 debut "The Waiting Game" (Linn AKD 018) scored rave reviews and was chosen as a Times Album of the Year. Interestingly, the liner notes were written by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, co-star of Martin's 2005 album (a beautiful collection of outstanding songs featuring just the two of them). Martin achieved one of her ambitions later that year, opening for Tony Bennett at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival.
By the mid-nineties Martin had received the Rising Star and Best Vocalist awards at the British Jazz Awards while receiving rave reviews on her American debut with four sell-out shows in Washington DC. Another ambition was fulfilled with the recording of a live album at Ronnie Scott's in 1995, an album that moved the New York Times to comment "In an era when young jazz singers tend to sound far too much like their idols, there is no mistaking the voice of Claire Martin who combines a cool, burnished tone with the ear of a born musician".
Increasingly popular across the pond, Martin recorded her fifth album "Make This City Ours" (Linn AKD 066) in New York reaching number 1 in the prestigious Gavin Charts and staying there for two weeks - the only European singer to achieve this. Future albums saw Martin collaborate with guitarist/producer Paul Stacey and she even had Noel Gallagher join her on a rendition of the Beatles classic "Help". Later that year she met Paul McCartney and delivered the re-working by hand. Her second album with Stacey featured a duet with cult singer/songwriter John Martyn, who has become a close friend.
Martin continued to gather awards, winning the Best Vocalist category for the fourth time at the 2002 British Jazz Awards and going onto win Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2003 (when she performed a duet with a certain Mr Cullum, who won the Rising Star Award that year).
Subsequent albums "Too Darn Hot" (Linn AKD 243) and "Secret Love" (Linn 246) further galvanised Martin's jazz credentials investigating an imaginative range of standards from the Great American Songbook as well as more contemporary material like Elvis Costello.
This was followed in 2005 by the critically-acclaimed duo release with composer and pianist Richard Rodney Bennett. Using material from their long-running shows, this intimate recording saw them offer takes on some rare repertoire from great writers like Sigman, Coward and Arlen. It prompted Jazz Times to comment "For my money she's not only the finest female British jazz singer of her generation but possibly of all time."
In 2007, Martin released an album which sees her recall the songs and spirit of the late and legendary Shirley Horn. Already being credited in many quarters as her finest recording to date, "He Never Mentioned Love" (Linn AKD 295) captures her in intimate and mature mode, paying tribute to her greatest musical influence. It led to widespread acclaim, with Observer Music Monthly saying "the complete jazz singer she's always threatened to be."
Busy as always, Martin and her band regularly tour the Far East, Europe and Australia, as well as festivals in Germany, France, The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Canada. Her quartet was the first ever jazz group to perform in Vietnam. She also performs regularly with Girl Talk (alongside Mari Wilson and Barb Jungr) and in duet with her close friend, Ian Shaw. She can also be found performing with the Halle Orchestra and the Laurence Cottle Big Band, with whom she will share the bill later this year with James Brown, at a festival in Thailand. Somehow she also finds time to work as a broadcaster, working as co-presenter of "Jazz Line Up" on BBC Radio 3 interviewing the likes of Michael Brecker, Andre Previn, and the occasional terrified young singer.
Claire Martin lives in Brighton with her daughter
For further information -
www.clairemartinjazz.comNorthern EchoVery attractive package...
more >>High Fidelity“lyden er superb og matcher meget godt den ligeledes høje musikalske kvalitet”
more >>AudioVideoHD.comLa excelente vocalista de jazz "Claire Martin" se ha convertido en un auténtico icono del prestigioso sello escocés "Linn Records".
more >>Jazzwise
That rarest of things: a singer who actually lives up to the extravagant claims made on their behalf.
more >>Yorkshire PostNot just one of the best jazz singers in Britain, she's one of the best anywhere.
more >>Yorkshire PostYou can't have too much of a good thing.
more >>Sunday Post...a treat.
more >>BBC Website[a] stonking 4-CD set
more >>Audiophile Audition
Many of the songs are delivered with a jazzy twist and her trademark smoky-sweet voice.
more >>Manchester Evening NewsA model lesson in how to nurture conspicuous talent over time.
more >>Atlantic Audio SocietyAn impressive singer, Claire Martin...
more >>The Guardianthis long-standing local class act continues to grow
more >>Jazz ReviewIn short: a gem of an album, pulling off the difficult feat of simultaneously showcasing Martin's unrivalled vocal gifts and celebrating the extraordinarily moving quality of Horn's music. Strongly recommended.
more >>The Jazz RagThe result is wholly listenable - a happy hour of music.
more >>Record CollectorMartin sings with her now familiar emotional power, maintaining her concentration with the song in hand, and always remaining totally believable.
more >>BBC Music MagazineClaire Martin shows why she's one of today's most sought-after singers
more >>Jazz Times(Her) voice is one of the most satisfying instruments in jazz.
more >>Die WeltwocheClaire Martin ist eine dergrossen Jazzsängerinnen der Zeit.
more >>East Anglian Daily TimesClaire Martin is now more than a superb singer. . .she's also a fine entertainer who can hold court in the top concert halls of the world down to the cosiest and intimate cabaret club.
more >>Limelight
As befitting someone whose musical intelligence, jazz spirit and individuality make her the complete singer, England's finest jazz diva stamps her own personality on each track.
more >>Audio and Video ReviewYet another stunning release on the world-renowned label Linn Records.
more >>Jazz UKAs beautifully done as you might expect from such a class act.
more >>The Star LedgerIt's hard to imagine Horn not being impressed with Martin's tribute.
more >>MojoA quiet beauty for admirers of small-hours jazz.
more >>The Sunday PostAnother great album from a British jazz icon - CD of the Week
more >>The ObserverMartin has a perfect jazz voice - warm, textured and subtle.
more >>JazzwiseClaire Martin ticks that final box and moves closer to becoming the complete jazz singer she's always threatened to be.
more >>Independent on SundayA superior vocalist for a long time - (Claire Martin) has developed real grain and character in her voice.
more >>The Sunday Times
Martin's smoky voice has never sounded more authoritative.
more >>MojoPerhaps Martin's best album.
more >>Audiophile AuditionIt's hard to pick and choose from so many good tracks...Very highly recommended!
more >>Yorkshire PostAn exceptionally fine album from one of the best singers around.
more >>Evening StandardDemonstrates the poised phrasing and smoky tone that make Ms Martin our most sophisticated jazz singer.
more >>The ScotsmanCLAIRE Martin has remained at the top of the ever-growing heap of UK jazz singers over the past decade and more.
more >>Time OutOur fave female jazz singer, Martin is absolutely peerless.
more >>www.girlsingers.orgMs. Martin is often called "The UK's finest jazz singer." This disc makes a strong case.
more >>The Vortex Website / MagazineIn short: a gem of an album. Strongly recommended.
more >>Atlanta Audio SocietyClaire Martin has an intuitive sense of how to handle the emotion in a song lyric, or even a single word.
more >>Rainbow Network WebsiteWhat is impressive is the range of Martin’s voice which is, by turns, soaring, sensuous, plaintive and powerful.
more >>The HeraldWithout imitating her heroine, (Claire Martin) captures her essence beautifully.
more >>BBC WebsiteShirley's passed the flame to Claire, who's using it to light fireworks. Go girl!
more >>Observer Music MonthlyThe complete jazz singer she's always threatened to be.
more >>The GuardianIf anyone can get away with a Shirley Horn tribute, it's Claire Martin, whose subtle musical intelligence and jazz sensibilities have been deepening for a long time.
more >>Record CollectorConsidered by many, this writer included, as the UK's premier jazz singer.
more >>The First Post (website)Claire Martin shows yet again why she is the classiest and most convincing UK female singer around.
more >>All About Jazz websiteOne of my favorite jazz vocalists.
more >>The TimesThe most intelligent and assured singer in the country.
more >>Jazz TimesFor my money she's not only the finest female British jazz singer of her generation but possibly of all time.
more >>www.jazzreview.comA delightful union of two of the UK's most recognized talents.
more >>Atlanta Audio SocietyThis Linn SACD was a revelation for me.
more >>Evening StandardIn lively form.
more >>Birmingham PostJazz CD of the Week
more >>Good Sound MagazineOne of the best jazz singers around.
more >>Audiophile AuditionVery, very highly recommended!
more >>Sunday TimesAs polished as you could hope for.
more >>Yorkshire PostThere isn’t a better singer than (Claire Martin) around.
more >>Sunday PostAs always with Linn, the recording sounds fantastic.
more >>Scotland on SundayOrder this CD pronto: it's a gem.
more >>Daily TelegraphStyle does not go out of style.
more >>JazzwiseA joy from start to finish.
more >>HMV ChoiceJust over an hour of pure class.
more >>The HeraldA treat of the most sophisticated kind.
more >>JazzReview.comnot only formidable talent but good taste
more >>Jazz TimesListen to Martin dazzle
more >>Good Sound.coman exciting, engaging blend
more >>JazzwiseYou do really feel that you're sitting either in the middle of the group or next to the band
more >>Scotland on Sundayan artist of great musicality
more >>Yorkshire Postanother peach of an album
more >>JazzwiseOne of Claire's best albums to date
more >>Jazz ReviewMartin is breezy, even masterful
more >>The HeraldA superb collection
more >>The GuardianVery classy indeed
more >>The Scotsmanhip-but-sophisticated interpretations
more >>Audiophile Auditionthese tracks are near demonstration quality
more >>CODA jazz magazineMartin is a true jazz performer
more >>Rainbownetwork.comsexy and seductive
more >>Audio & Video Lifestyle Australiawill really get your toes a-tappin'
more >>BBCiwrings passion from every belted-out note
more >>In-Tune International[an] appealing smoky-tinged voice
more >>ejazznewsthe slightly husky tones of her voice make the spine tingle
more >>Jazz ExpressIf her debut was good this one is even better.
more >>The ObserverTo be original without sounding outlandish or just plain dotty is a difficult trick to bring off, especially for singers but Claire Martin has always managed it with grace and poise.
more >>CC NewzI recommend this CD without hesitation.
more >>Her voice is darker and more persuasive than on previous records.
more >>Audio & Video Lifestyle AustraliaThis album is one classy jazz vocal release that will be hard to beat. *****
more >>LP: Magazine for Analogue Hi-Fi and Vinyl CultureLinn sets the bar with this release.
more >>Evening StandardTalent, personality and a refreshingly slick approach.
more >>Brighton Evening ArgusWidely recognised as the best British jazz singer of her generation
more >>Jazz UKClaire Martin has been a class act for years.
more >>HMV ChoiceClaire Martin still seems as fresh a talent as ever.
Audiophile AuditionVery, very highly recommended!
more >>Jazzwiseexemplary timing and indisputable stage presence
more >>Los Angeles Timesa first rate introduction to the work of this first rate jazz artist
more >>The Observerone of Britain's finest voices
more >>Guitaristthis is a real treat
more >>Sunday Timesone of the few world-class singers
more >>Classic CDher voice smoulders
more >>Hi-Fi News & Record Reviewcool, jazzy vocals
more >>Jazzwiseseductively honeyed treatments
more >>Jazz Journal InternationalThis lady simply gets better
more >>The ObserverThe album has a vitality essential to jazz
more >>Jazz on CDIt's a great album
more >>Gramophoneshe has a soft, husky voice and good intonation and a superb band
more >>Classical Musica cleverly chosen batch of songs
more >>Jazz On CDMartin is at home with both swing and ballads
more >>Gramophoneeasily as good as its predecessors
more >>The Stagea talent to be savoured.
more >>Hi Fi News and Record ReviewLinn can be proud of this one.
more >>Jazz Journal...blessed not only with a wonderful voice but also the rare ability to use it with style, intelligence and wit.
more >>Jazz TimesA gifted interpreter of songs, with a wonderful sense of repertoire.
more >>