Guy Barker (Lena Horne, Quincy Jones, Sting)
Martin Taylor (Peggy Lee, Dionne Warwick, Jamie Cullum)
Dave Newton (Stacey Kent, Carol Martin, Carol Kidd)
Ewen Vernal (Eddi Reader, Deacon Blue, Capercaillie)
Marcus Ford (Niki King)
Jack Emblow (KD Lang, Elton John, The Beatles)
There are singers and there are jazz singers. There are jazz singers and there are a few artists who bring more to the microphone - their life, love, heartaches and joy. Alison Burns is one of those artists.
A lifelong love of music started at home, with an early education in the Great American Songbook from a father who played guitar and a mother who would carry the guitar case into his gigs!
As a young girl in Dundee, an industrial city on the east coast of Scotland, the dreams were of singing and acting in Hollywood and the soundtrack was Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, and Bessie Smith among many others.
The road to a recording career has been an inspiring one. From being the first female apprentice engineer in the famous Timex watch factory at the age of 16 (complete with curls and a full face of make up!) to being sacked from a bingo calling job, to the tragic circumstances which encouraged her to make a leap of faith into performing from a secure but unsatisfying job.
The death of her brother Alan, who was serving in the Falklands brought home the reality of a life lived unfulfilled.
While acting, singing and presenting, her band The Rainmates were offered two record deals but the time didn't feel right. Her heart took her back to the songs of the 1940s and the close harmony groups such as The Dinning Sisters.
This led to the formation of a three-part female harmony group, The Penny Dainties. Not only did the Penny Dainties record an album, but it lead to Alison meeting her now husband who substituted one night when the regular drummer was unavailable.
During this time Alison was twiddling her thumbs during the day so decided to do what anyone would – to study for a law degree! A short time practising was enough to send Alison back to music full-time, however. After working behind the scenes for a while, it was finally time to get behind the microphone and sing the songs that had been the soundtrack to her life.
Her debut album, Kissing Bug, released in March 2007 was received with universal acclaim and became the first album by a Scottish jazz singer to reach the Jazz Top 10.
So far she has packed her bag to perform in far-flung destinations such as Tokyo, Nashville, New York, Cannes, Italy and Shanghai as well as being invited to play by Michael Parkinson, who welcomed her off stage with a huge hug and the comment “wonderful, wonderful!”.
She has played jazz festival and venues across the country, with her own group and guesting with Martin Taylor at a number of concerts.
It was at these concerts that the idea for the new album 1:AM came about. The recordings of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass were the inspiration, stripping back the songs to just vocal and guitar.
Despite the smoky dark eyes and robust sense of humour, there's little of the jazz diva about Alison Burns. For those who may think that Alison is where she has always wanted to be, that's true up to a point, but looking at her track record, this is obviously just the beginning.
Here is what the press are saying:
"Burns's voice strikes the right balance between sensitivity and power" - HMV Choice
La Folie are having a launch party on the 8th of June at The Forum in Sheffield! £2 advance tickets/£3 on the door! Plus the added bonus of if you film some stuff from the night of us, you or anything else connected and send it us, we will send you a free copy of 'Risus Sardonicus'
Just to let you know I've launched a new website: www.StressFreePrint.co.uk. If you get a sec, please take a look around and let me know what you think. As always, give me a shout if you need any leaflets, flyers or posters to promote your gigs. Hope I can help you out sometime.
Take care and keep up the good work, Tom.
P.S. Cheers for your friendship. As a thank you, enter voucher code 'myspace' when ordering leaflet printing, flyer printing or poster printing and I'll knock 15 quid off the cost!
Alison my new friend. Some Beautiful singing and playing here. Sat back and just listened. Bravo. Nice to be a friend. Have an awesome week full of inspiration. CHOLEY
Check out our newest mixtape officially hosted by a Major Artist! Just click the cover to download all the Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes for free at www.coast2coastmixtapes.com!
Artists click below to submit your music to be considered for the next Coast 2 Coast Mixtape hosted by a Major Artist!
Alison, You have so always deserved and earned the success you are now having. Great on ye girl. Much respect and appreciation of attitude from early days.
In honour of your acquisition, I'm going to watch Frida this weekend whilst others follow the unlikely fate of Scotland at the pub! I'm rooting for the boys but can't bear to watch! Good luck in Jerjee! xx
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