British Singer Songwriter Julia Fordham burst into the music scene in 1988 on Virgin Records with the International hit “Happy Ever After.” Then followed her critically acclaimed album “Porcelain,” which included the popular songs “Manhattan Skyline”
and “Lock and Key.”
Julia has just completed her tenth record China Blue. A jazz record comprised of original songs written by Julia and produced and arranged by the wonderfully talented
multi-instrumentalist Grant Mitchell.
As there are so many jazz “standards” records – Julia longed to release an album of original songs. However, when she played some gigs last year adding her jazz songs to the set, Julia included a version of Michael McDonald’s hit “I keep Forgettin.”
Rearranged and produced for this record by Jon Gilutin (Linda Ronstadt), she was thrilled when the co-producer of this song Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Michael McDonald) played the track to Michael. Having always been a huge fan, Julia was delighted when immediately after hearing her rendition of his song, Michael added his remarkable voice to the track, blessing it with his rare and distinctive vocal sound.
Julia decided to re-record two songs from the Porcelain album. The newly arranged title track “China Blue,” which was only available in the UK, and “For You Only For You,” which is gloriously simple with piano, violin and Julia’s divine voice. “I Want To Stay Home With You,” from the Baby Love ep, is also included.
After a long and illustrious career, selling millions of records worldwide on Virgin Records and three releases on Vanguard Records, including a live CD and accompanying DVD, “That’s Live,” was recorded and filmed at the House of Blues in Hollywood and released in 2005. Produced by Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeline Peyroux), it included an all star band and featured a stunning duet on the song “Concrete Love” with Grammy Award winning artist India.Arie and trumpet player/composer (“Crash”) Mark Isham.
After the Tsunami in 2004, an old school chum of Julia’s enlisted her to remix “Happy Ever After” with the proceeds going towards rebuilding a school in Cuddalore. Julia, along with record producer Grant Mitchell, re-recorded the song with a group of children from the Ashington School in West Sussex, UK. In February ’07, Julia was delighted to attend the school opening in India.
Last year Julia released her most precious collection of songs as a worldwide exclusive through iTunes. Inspired by her little girl, “Baby Love” is a 6 song EP combining Julia’s jazzy, yet soulful vocal range, and her love for her daughter Marley Rose.
Julia started writing songs at 12 and began performing them in the local folk clubs at 14. In her late teens, Julia made a guest vocalist appearance with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in London. From that moment on, she had always hoped to record an album of original jazz “standard” style songs. The release of China Blue sees that dream coming to fruition.
China Blue is available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, Rhapsody and other on-line retailers.
2008 Highlights:
Performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Guest on Tracey Ullman’s Showtime series ‘State of the Union’
Will air in March, 2009
Tours in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, DC & Boston Japan & the Philippines
Radio airplay on Jazz stations in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Florida, Portland & MusicChoice
Guest appearance in the independent film ‘Plus One’ –
The making of ‘Plus One: The Diary of a Hollywood Nobody’
Filmed in Cannes, release date TBA
BACKSTAGE AT THE CATALINA JAZZ CLUB (June 6, 2009)
Paul Reiser - Special Guest / Jon Gilutin - Keyboards / Julia / Jason Smith - Bass /
Celia Chavez - Background Vocals / Brett Simons - Bass / Mitchell Long - Guitar
JULIA PERFORMING 'HOLIDAY' ON "THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON"
(November 17, 2008)
LIVE FROM THE PHILIPPINES - FEBRUARY 2008
LIVE FROM JAPAN - MARCH 2008
Photos by Tom Dube
Acoustic Guitar/Vocals - Julia
Upright Bass/Electric Bass/Vocals - Brett Simons
Piano/Vocals - Spencer Cozens
Drums/Vocals - Jason Smith
........
Coordinated by Caroline James, kids aged 4-11 gathered from the Ashington First School in the UK while Producer Grant Mitchell recorded them singing in English and Indonesian to the original backing track of "Happy Ever After."
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