My wonderful band features Andy Panayi (fl), Derek Nash (ts) and Graham Harvey (p), Dave Chamberlain (b), Matt Skelton (d).
Influences
There are so many, where does one start? Shirley Horn, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Sandy Patton, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Anita O'Day, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, BB King, Astrud Gilberto, Miles Davis, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall, Sting, Phil Collins, Tierney Sutton and many many more...
Sounds Like
Available at:
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Available nationwide in stores in UK, Greece and South Africa.
Available on itunes and all other major digital stores.
Passionate about music from her formative years, Alison grew up singing and performing in her native Johannesburg, South Africa. From appearing in musicals (and several on-screen appearances) in South Africa, Alison gained a wealth of experience, which in turn focused her interest in carving a career in the music industry. Keen to explore a variety of genres, Alison went on to perform lead vocals with a professional pop band, performing regularly in Pretoria. Alison later joined Johannesburg based "No Surprise" with whom she recorded original material and performed live in South Africa. However in '93 a trip to Europe lay just around the corner and was to introduce Alison to her greatest musical passion, jazz.
After a brief spell in the UK Alison moved to Switzerland in 1996, it was there she became hooked on jazz. Inspired by jazz legends (including the late, great, Shirley Horn) and determined to learn as much as possible Alison began a formal education in music at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Zürich. She went on to study further with the renowned Zürich Jazz School and enrolled with the St Gallen Jazz School.
Alison then spent a number of years performing with the acclaimed Swiss jazz trio Inbetween as guest vocalist. She then formed her own successful jazz quartet and built up a loyal following in Switzerland prior to moving to the UK in 2005.
In 2006 Alison released her first cd, a five track EP entitled Introducing Alison Dewar. The cd captured a variety of moods and vocal styles from the joyously upbeat Star Eyes to an intensely reflective interpretation of the beautiful Horace Silver ballad Peace. Upon release the cd garnered critical acclaim and entered the Best Sellers list at Ray's Jazz in Foyles, London steadily climbing to No.7 in their chart. In Europe Alison’s EP was voted cd of the week on Italian radio, and Softly became track of the week and month respectively on Italian and Greek radio, where the cd reached Top 20. Introducing Alison also received airplay in the US, France, Columbia and South Africa.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Alison continues to develop and define her craft, always learning from great teachers and mentors including Al Jarreau, BB King, Bobby McFerrin, Jay Clayton, Sandy Patton, Sheila Jordan, Take 6 and The Jackson 5 Gospel Singers.
OMG! Miriam Makeba! It seems like only just a while ago I was a little boy listening to my mother play her with Bellefonte “At Carnegie Hall”. Too many people are gone just as of this year, and the word is lessened with the passing of each any every one. Thanks for everything Miriam, Paul Marks
How are you dear? I always seem to be running into a Lovely group of Ladies from the British Airways everyday. They are incredibly bubbly, All of them!
Well its always nice just to be remembered or thought about.. so thankyou :-) No sign of Robin i'm afraid but plenty of merry men ( and women)! Im afraid the green tights have stayed with me :-)! Sun is out today.. how is your weekend looking ? best wishes x
That's great to hear cause we are moving to Gettysburg, PA and will be there before August 10th. That means I will be getting into NYC much more now. I will keep in touch. Thanx for the well wishes! Looking forward to hooking up and seeing you perform in "The Big Apple"!!! Peace/Tunde
Alison, my beautiful songstress!!!! Where have you been? I guess you can ask the same of me. Well....I'm coming back to your "neck of the woods" Will be at Pizza Express, Soho on August 29th & 30th! It won't be a concert without you and yours. Spread the word for me (check out the schedule here, I'm in England for the month of September) and do come and say hello...please,please,please (me and James Brown, eh!) Much love to you and the family and let me know where you are performing so that I can try and catch you also!!! Peace/Tunde
Hi, I am so glad you are here ...You must miss London. There is a park near the Brooklyn Bridge where one may communicate with Ol' London Town via satellite. 100's of visitors there everyday, writing private messages, just eagerly awaiting a response from Britain. That always makes me smile.
Hi Alison, your music is swinging my ass off! Like that oldskool sounding jazz. The pianosound is reminding me to Ramsey Lewis somehow and you're singing shy like Nina Simone. Keep it up! A.
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