Anita Wardell Quartet
"The Australian vocalist is an uncompromising exponent of bebop. Think of her, if you like, as the female equivalent of Mark Murphy,” said Clive Davis, of The Times.
One of our performers at the 2016 Relaunch Night, Anita Wardell’s singing is exciting and breathtaking. Noted for her mesmerising and captivating vocal improvisations and vocalese lyrics to instrumental solos, she uses the voice as her instrument, displaying precision and agility, mixed with heartfelt emotion.
During her teens, Anita started to get to grips with the complexities of modern jazz when she discovered Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. At the same time she learned her vocal craft from legendary greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Murphy, Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, Jon Hendricks and Eddie Jefferson.
Whereas most singers bluff their way through wordless bars without making any sense, Australia-reared, Guildford-born Anita is a true seat-singer. She thinks like a trumpeter or saxophonist, creating shapely lines to suit the song’s chord structure.
Winner of the Best Vocalist category in the 2013 British Jazz Awards, Anita has four critically acclaimed albums to her credit.
Backed by a rock-solid trio, who between them have accompanied artists such as John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Orphy Robinson, Arturo Sandoval, Van Morrison, Curtis Stigers, Julian Joseph and Scott Hamilton, this lady's a class act.
Anita Wardell (Vocals), Robin Aspland (Piano), Jeremy Brown (Double Bass), Steve Brown (Drums)
“Her bop singing, always so clear in its linearism, is even better now, but what hits me is how expressive her ballad singing now is.” - Mark Murphy
"With a voice full of warmth, she wove her way through bebop, ballads and bossa nova." - Herve Perez, Sheffield Times
"For many, the most creative jazz singer operating in London, this sweet toned Australian chooses superior songs and can improvise with the best." - Jack Massarik, Evening Standard
www.anitawardell.com
View some footage on youtube
Tickets £14 / £12 Concessions. Students £6.
Jazz Express Offer: Book for any three events and get tickets for just £10 each!
Doors open 7pm, starts 7.30pm.
