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Ian Shaw (singer)

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Ian Shaw
Ian Shaw
Ian Shaw in Saarbrücken, Germany, October 2023
Background information
Born (1962-06-02) 2 June 1962 (age 62)
St. Asaph, Wales
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Singer, broadcaster, producer, comedian
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active1982-present
Websitewww.ianshaw.biz

Ian Shaw (born 2 June 1962) is a British jazz singer, broadcaster, record producer, actor and comedian.[1]

Shaw was born in St. Asaph, Wales. At eighteen he moved to London where he studied music at King's College London.[2] His career in performance began in the 1980s working in piano bars in the UK and abroad, both solo and as a duo with composer Andrew Phillips[3] (guitar). On the alternative cabaret circuit, he appeared alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremner, and Jo Brand.

Shaw co-founded the band Brave New World with Adrian York, touring with them and playing at venues that included Hammersmith Odeon and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.[4] He recorded his first album Lazy Blue Eyes (1990), a collaboration with fellow singer Carol Grimes. By the mid-1990s, he was regularly performing at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and he released three albums on the club's Jazz House label: Ghostsongs (1992), a tribute to Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart titled Taking It to Hart (1995), and The Echo of a Song (1996). In 1996, Shaw led his own Very Big Band on a UK tour, and by the late 1990s he was performing regularly in the US. In 1999, he released In a New York Minute, the first of two albums on the US label Milestone Records. This and Soho Stories, released in 2001, featured American musicians, including Cedar Walton, Lew Soloff, and Eric Alexander. On his next album A World Still Turning (2003), he worked with Billy Childs and Peter Washington, and guest vocalist Mark Murphy.

His 2006 album on Linn Records saw Shaw paying tribute to songwriter Joni Mitchell. Drawn to All Things: The Songs of Joni Mitchell was followed in 2008 by an autobiographical album, Lifejacket, which showcased his songwriting for the first time, in collaboration with the guitarist David Preston. Somewhere Towards Love from 2009 was an intimate album of voice and piano released by Splash Point Records. The title song, written by Shaw, was chosen by Molly Parkin as one of her Desert Island Discs.[5] In 2011, he recorded The Abbey Road Sessions with a band that included bass player Peter Ind.

Shaw was a close friend of lyricist and poet Fran Landesman and following her death he recorded A Ghost In Every Bar[6][7] (2012), a collection of songs with lyrics by Landesman, also on Splash Point Records. His next two albums were on the French Jazz Village label: The Theory of Joy[8] (2016) and Shine Sister Shine[9] (2018), both with piano trio led by Barry Green. These were followed by two collaborations with pianist and songwriter Jamie Safir, both on Silent Wish Records: What's New[10] (2020) which also featured saxophonist Iain Ballamy and Greek Street Friday[11] (2023) which consisted of original tracks with biographical lyrics written by Shaw, performed by a full band. His most recent album, An Adventurous Dream[12] (2024) was a collaboration with saxophonist Tony Kofi, featuring the music of Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington.

On radio, Shaw presented the weekly BBC Radio 2 programme Big Band Special in 2004.[13] Since 2012 he has presented the Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show, broadcast in the UK on JazzFM and syndicated to the US (Jazz90.1 and Jazz88.FM) and Canada (Jazz.FM91). He has also written and presented three series of his own podcast, Not Even Music.[14]

Among notable appearances, he hosted the BBC Jazz Awards with singer Claire Martin in 2004,[15] and the inaugural Jazz FM awards ceremony in 2013.[16] He performed at the opening gala for the London Jazz Festival in 2007,[17] 2014[18] and 2022.[19] In 2021 he sang in the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Black Milk, written for jazz singer and sixteen players with a text by Paul Celan.[20][21] The following year he celebrated his birthday with Shaw at 60,[22] a concert at Kings Place with guests including singers Madeline Bell and Elaine Delmar, trumpeter Guy Barker, actor Haydn Gwynne and comedian Julian Clary.

Shaw has continued to perform in the UK including regular shows at the Vortex Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, 606 Club and PizzaExpress Jazz Club. Music festival appearances have included Cheltenham[23] and London Jazz Festivals,[24][25] North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam) in 2014,[26] Toronto Jazz Festival in 2014[27] and Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2018.[28] He has also continued to perform worldwide with regular appearances in Germany and Canada.

He has won the BBC Jazz Award in the Best Jazz Vocalist category (2004[29] and 2007[30]), and Best Jazz Vocalist at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards (2018).[31]

Acting

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As an actor, Shaw performed in Jerry Springer: The Opera during its run at Battersea Arts Centre in 2002[32] playing Warm-Up Man/Devil, a role which was created for him by Richard Thomas. Shaw appeared as Percy in the 2005 film Pierrepoint[33][34] and as Eric in the 2013 film Titus.[35] He wrote and performed his comedy show A Bit Of A Mouthful, with dates at the Edinburgh Fringe (The Stand Comedy Club, 2012)[36] and the Adelaide Comedy Festival (2015),[37] the latter at the invitation of Barry Humphries. In Kurt Elling’s jazz musical The Big Blind, he played the villain Tony Bonilla with performances at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater (2019)[38] and Queen Elizabeth Hall, London (2020).[39]

Activism

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Shaw has campaigned in support of refugees, and he worked as a volunteer in the Calais Jungle encampment. He is a patron of Side by Side Refugees[40] which provides humanitarian aid to those fleeing war, poverty and persecution, and since 2020 he has been a patron of Refugee Support.[41] He organised fundraisers, including 2015 events at The Vortex Jazz Club[42] and Phoenix Artist Club[43] and a 2016 event at The 606 Club[44] with guests including Tanita Tikaram. He also released a music video of My Brother, a track from his album The Theory of Joy, to raise money for refugee charities.[45]

Discography

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References

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  1. ^ Yanow, Scott (2008). The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide. Music Dispatch. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-87930-825-4. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195313734.
  3. ^ "Ian Shaw & Andrew Phillips Archives - Spoken Word Archive". Spoken Word Archive. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Music Matters: Ian Shaw Interview". Millers Music. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  5. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Molly Parkin". BBC. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Ian Shaw – A Ghost In Every Bar". Jazzwise. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  7. ^ Lindsay, Bruce (26 August 2012). "Ian Shaw: A Ghost In Every Bar album review". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  8. ^ McKergow, Mark (3 February 2016). "CD REVIEW: Ian Shaw – The Theory of Joy". London Jazz News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  9. ^ Fordham, John (23 November 2017). "Ian Shaw: Shine Sister Shine review – beautiful homage to female vocal stars | Jazz". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  10. ^ May, Chris (22 March 2020). "Ian Shaw, Iain Ballamy, Jamie Safir: What's New album review". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  11. ^ Clark, Graham (2 September 2023). "Albums: Ian Shaw - Greek Street Friday". Yorkshire Times. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  12. ^ May, Chris (31 March 2024). "Ian Shaw & Tony Kofi: An Adventurous Dream (At PizzaExpress Live In London) album review". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Schedule - BBC Programme Index". BBC. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Not Even Music Podcast Series". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  15. ^ "BBC - Press Office - BBC Jazz Awards 2004". BBC. 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  16. ^ Quinn, Peter (16 January 2013). "2013 Jazz FM Music Awards: the nominees". The Arts Desk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  17. ^ Fordham, John (29 November 2007). "Jazz festival lights up London | Music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  18. ^ Vacher, Peter (15 November 2014). "REVIEW: Jazz Voice – Opening Gala of the 2014 EFG London Jazz Festival". London Jazz News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  19. ^ Sutton, Lavender (12 November 2022). "Jazz Voice at the Royal Festival Hall (2022 EFG LJF)". London Jazz News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Black milk". RCM Research Online. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  21. ^ "Mark-Anthony Turnage - Black Milk". Boosey & Hawkes. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Ian Shaw at 60' at Kings Place". London Jazz News. 3 June 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  23. ^ "20th Anniversary of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival!". Europe Jazz Network. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Ian Shaw with Tony Kofi". EFG London Jazz Festival.
  25. ^ "Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw & Claire Martin". EFG London Jazz Festival. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Ian Shaw and his trio with special guest Sachal Vasandani". NN North Sea Jazz Festival. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  27. ^ "TD Toronto Jazz Festival 28th Anniversary". Latin Jazz Network. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  28. ^ "NEWLY ANNOUNCED FOR SATURDAY 30TH JUNE | Love Supreme". Love Supreme. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  29. ^ "BBC Jazz Awards 2004". BBC - Press Office. 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  30. ^ "2007 BBC Jazz Awards". BBC - Press Office. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  31. ^ "All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group". Sandy Brown Jazz. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  32. ^ Elcom, H.E. "Richard Thomas: Jerry Springer: the opera". The Classical Music Network. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Friday 28 March 2008 / Ian Shaw". Brighton Jazz Club. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  34. ^ Holden, Stephen (5 June 2007). "Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (2006)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  35. ^ "Titus (2013) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Ian Shaw - A Bit of a Mouthful". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Forget all the rules at Humphries' Cabaret Festival". InDaily. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  38. ^ Milkowski, Bill (8 March 2019). "Kurt Elling Goes 'Big' in new Radio Drama". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  39. ^ Sebastian, Scotney (3 February 2020). ""The Big Blind" with Kurt Elling and Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Queen Elizabeth Hall". London Jazz News. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  40. ^ "Meet The Team". Side by Side Refugees. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  41. ^ "Welcome Patron Ian Shaw!". Refugee Support. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  42. ^ "Upcoming Events | Ian Shaw & friends (including Carleen Anderson, Sarah Jane Morris, Polly Gibbons and more) – Benefit for refugees in Calais". Vortex Jazz Club. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  43. ^ "Ian Shaw and Special Guests: Fundraiser for Calais Refugees | Music in London". Time Out. 13 November 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  44. ^ Thorne, Laura (10 May 2016). "REPORT: Side by Side Refugees Charity Night at the 606 (Ian Shaw, Tanita Tikaram and guests)". London Jazz News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  45. ^ "Ian Shaw - My Brother". Side By Side Refugees. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
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