Clare Teal joins the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for a big band end to 2011

Dec 29 2011 Flintshire Chronicle

This year has certainly been a whirlwind one for jazz performer Clare Teal.

A universally applauded appearance with John Wilson at the BBC Proms from the Royal Albert Hall, broadcast nationally on BBC Two, a support slot with Lisa Minnelli at London’s Kenwood House, several more live performances on national TV as well as her two weekly spots on Radio 2 are just some of the highlights.

Now she is to take part in the New Year’s Eve gala at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Wilson.

Growing up in a tiny village near Skipton in Yorkshire, a young Clare was unlike many other teenagers of 1980s. Resisting the charms of Simon Le Bon and Nik Kershaw, she spent her time in the attic listening to her nan’s 78s.

“I was obsessed with the singers of the 30s, the 40s and 50s,” she said.

Trained as a child in the organ, piano and clarinet, Clare went on to study music at the University of Wolverhampton. Upon graduation she entered a national competition to find the country’s best Billie Holiday soundalike, in which she came second.

One of Clare’s first jobs was writing jingles. She said: “I’d write these jingles, and then sing them in the manner of Julie Andrews, Madonna, my old favourite Billie Holiday and, well, anybody, really. They were singing telegrams, effectively, and it was actually a lot of fun.”

At the age of 27, fate then stepped in. A pianist she had met years earlier during her Billie Holiday episode called, requiring a singer to perform alongside him for one night only and wondering whether Clare would be interested. It proved to be the night of her life.

“This was my toe in the door of the industry,” she said. “I was going to make the very best of it.”

This entailed making a selection of demos, guesting with jazz bands, playing locally and losing a lot of money. But she was gradually making a name for herself.

In 2001 she inked a deal with independent label Candid, for whom she wrote and recorded three albums – That’s the Way It Is, Orsino’s Songs and The Road Less Travelled.

Clare signed with the Sony Jazz label in 2004, which spawned what would become her breakthrough album, Don’t Talk, an acclaimed record of tender jazz that exemplified what a talent she was. It topped the British jazz chart and cracked the UK Top 20, shipping 60,000 copies and winning several awards.

Clare’s fifth studio album, Paradisi Carousel, saw the music move toward a more pop style, however, in 2008 Clare embraced a return to her first love – jazz – with the release of Get Happy on the Universal imprint W14 Music.

Alongside her music, Clare has a successful career in broadcasting, presenting her own Sunday night show for Radio 2.

Clare returned in 2011 with her 10th album, Hey Ho, a celebration of The Great British Songbook, spanning almost 120 years.

She won British Jazz Singer of the year in 2005 and 2007 and BBC Jazz Singer of the Year in 2006.

The New Year’s Eve concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are priced from £16-£40. Call 0151 709 3789 or visit www.liverpoolphil.com.