Claire Martin Praised in Metro

UK-based free newspaper Metro have praised Claire Martin in their coveted preview section of the upcoming Leeds Jazz Festival.

Mike Butler describes Martin as "the star of Chill Out Sunday (who is) is winningly offhand and delectably hard-boiled, yes; chilled, never." He goes on to say, "Now is a good time to check out one of the finest female British jazz singers of her generation."

Launching her first four studio albums as a box set, "The Early Years Anthology" (out Sep 8), Martin describes the package as "like pages in your diary".

The article states that "Martin finds new songs that chime with the sophistication of the old. Her 2000 album, "Perfect Alibi", was well ahead of the game for jazz-pop crossover."

On her more recent work, such as the recent Shirley Horn homage "He Never Mentioned Love", Butler interestingly states that "it sometimes seems that Martin is not singing, but intimately conversing. This might qualify as chilled, but in a live setting, the sass and swing come to the fore."

In summation, Martin confirms that "I'm just evolving. I go and hear Tony Bennett, who's 82, and Cleo Laine at 80, and I think: "Bloody hell! I've still got 40 years to learn to do it." That's the great thing about jazz - you get a long run."

Leeds Jazz Festival runs on Sunday 24 and Bank Holiday Monday 25 August, 2008 at various Leeds venues.

For times and prices: Tel: 0113 395 0891; www.bigcityjazz.co.uk.