Tammy Weis with Special Guests Julian Joseph and BJ Cole, Aaron Diehl Trio Wednesday 24th August

Tom Cawley on piano, Al Cherry on guitar, Arnie Somogyi on bass, Simon  Lea on drums, special guests- Julian Joseph and BJ Cole

“Now there's a vocalist!' - Michael Bublé

“She’s the real deal” - Time Out London

“Vancouver’s loss could well be London’s gain” Jazzwise

Tammy Weis

Having performed to great acclaim in her native Vancouver for some years now, Tammy Weis is now resident in London. UK Highlights include performances with Jamie Cullum at the Jazz Café, and Ray Gelato at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Her debut CD, 'Legacy' has been universally well received, and has led to appearances at the Montreal and Vancouver and London Jazz Festivals .

Tammy is writing with Terry Britten (Tina Turner), Tim Fraser (Lulu) and Tom Cawley (Accoustic Ladyland) for her new album and has been featured on Courtney Pine's 'Jazz Crusade' (BBC Radio 2) and Jazzwise magazine.


'Now there's a vocalist!' - Michael Buble'

"She's the real deal" - Time Out London

"A master of the ballad"- Julian Joseph BBC Radio 2

Julian Joseph

Virtuoso pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger and broadcaster, Julian Joseph is the undisputed heir to the global house of jazz. Acclaimed by critics and audiences the world over, Julian never fails to inspire with his mastery of the keyboard, the versatility of his musicianship, and the seemingly limitless scope of his creative imagination. Always relaxed and self-assured, Julian is completely at home on any stage and in front of any band. His passion for the music is palpable, and his desire to communicate that passion compelling.

BJ Cole

BJ was a founder member of the British post psychedelic band COCHISE. He went on to write and record his seminal experimental album 'The New Hovering Dog' (United Artists 1973). The 1970's saw BJ establishing his session career with groundbreaking recordings with Steve Marriott, Elton John, Dave Edmunds and Gerry Rafferty as well as extensive touring with the bands of Kiki Dee and Andy Fairweather Low. On top of this BJ found time to establish Cow Pie Records which led to his long term association with Hank Wangford. In the 1980's BJ consolidated his status as a session musician with defining work for Shakin Stevens, David Sylvian, Deacon Blue and Depeche Mode.

INFO ON ALBUM LAUNCH

“Now there's a vocalist!' - Michael Bublé

“She’s the real deal” - Time Out London

“Vancouver’s loss could well be London’s gain” Jazzwise

Where I Need To Be will be launched at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club on February 25th 2010

Where I Need To Be is the brand new album from singer Tammy Weis, released on February 25th 2010.  A stirring collection of vocal numbers that draw on her past experiences, the album is a personal reflection of Weis’ life in London having relocated there from her native Canada. However, the concepts will be familiar to any listener – these songs tell stories of old ties being severed, of the confusion and excitement that comes with change, of the nostalgia of the past and the excitement of beginning again somewhere new.  

Joining Weis for this story telling session is a selection of very special guests.  Taking the piano chair on All Because Of You is Julian Joseph, a composer, bandleader, broadcaster and spectacular instrumentalist who adds his own gentle swing to the piece as well as a classy solo spot.  “Working with Julian Joseph has been wonderful,” says Tammy. He has been an incredible support; he was the one who initially motivated me to do an album of original songs and believed I could do it even when I didn't think it was possible.”  UK pedal steel guitar virtuoso B.J. Cole (who has played with the likes of Sting, Elvis Costello, Bjork, Jerry Lee Lewis and Depeche Mode) drops by on three numbers, Weis’ honey-coated vocals perfectly suiting the subtle slides and glissandos of the instrument on Where Did The Time Go, while harmonica ace Julian Jackson brings a laid-back feel to Not That Kinda Girl, the track’s assertive tone offering a neat counterpoint to his bluesy twang.  Steve Rubie, known to UK jazz fans as the owner of London’s famous 606 Club, shows up on Everyone But Me playing percussion, and while not appearing on the album per se, credit must also be given to the great producer/songwriter Terry Britten, who co-wrote Don’t Want To Fall In Love Again along with Tammy.

In addition to these guests, Tammy has stayed true to her working quartet drawn from the cream of the UK scene.  At the core of the group is pianist Tom Cawley, highly respected for his work with both his Curios trio and with Acoustic Ladyland, one of  the most influential and innovative groups to have emerged in recent years.  While both of these groups have a very forward thinking approach to contemporary jazz, on Where I Need To Be Cawley intelligently and sensitively colours the songs, lifting the pieces with an elegant solo, as on the softly lilting I’ll Spend Forever.  “Tom and I have a great writing partnership,” says Tammy.  “His talent inspires and motivates me to be a better songwriter and musician.”  Slotting in alongside Cawley’s piano is guitarist Al Cherry, whose work with artists such as Gwyneth Herbert and Finn Peters has marked him out as a brilliantly vibrant player; bassist Arnie Somogyi, a regular on many London stages and surely one of the busiest players around; and drummer Seb de Krom, Jamie Cullum’s main rhythm man for several years and an endlessly original performer.  

Tammy herself is the star of the show here – early years informed by great popular American singers like Tammy Wynette (after whom she is named) and Bonnie Raitt give her voice an original ‘edge’ not common in many jazz performers, while her love of Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee can be heard in her subtle intonations and inflections.  Coming to London also exposed her to a great wealth of collaborative opportunity.  "I moved to London because there were so many talented people I wanted to work with and I like the openness of the music scene here," she explains.  Since coming to the UK, finding her voice as a songwriter has become more and more important.  "I love delving into my mind and imagination, which can be scary,” she says. “But the song at the end is my reward for expressing what’s inside."  

Recent highlights in her career have included collaborations and appearances with Jamie Cullum at the Jazz Cafe, Bobby McFerrin at the Royal Albert Hall, Ian Shaw and Lianne Carroll at the Royal Opera house, and singing opposite Curtis Stigers at Ronnie Scott’s, where Weis will be releasing the album at the end of February.

Weis’ delicate vocal style has an intimacy that draws the listener into each of the stories on Where I Need To Be, expressing a sense of subtle vulnerability and of deserved self-assurance in her ability and material.This touching collection of originals (and one cover – Lennon and McCartney’s Help, beautifully rendered as a plea for clemency from the troubles the world can throw at us) is Tammy’s most personal musical document to date.  Where I Need To Be certainly finds her in the right place...

Personnel:

Tammy Weis – vocals
Tom Cawley – piano
Al Cherry – guitar
Arnie Somogyi – bass
Seb de Krom – drums

B.J. Cole
Julian Joseph
Julian Jackson
Steve Rubie