Bill Withers, Nick Drake, Nina Simone, Mary Coughlan, Leonard Cohen, James Taylor, Peggy Lee, Nellie Lutcher, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, Ani Di Franco, Tom Waits, Bonnie Rait, Natalie Merchant, Lambchop, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, Kirsty MacColl ....inspired to keep going by The Waifs, Serena Ryder, Ruthie Foster, Andrea Koziol, Michael Franti.....
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To be brief...
Started singing in jazz clubs/pubs/anywhere that would have me from the age of 15. Released my first album on Black Box Records and gigged around. I then performed a show about Peggy Lee at the Battersea Arts Centre and the Edinburgh Festival. It got great reviews and for the next few years, I toured a lot in theatres and festivals UK and abroad, bringing to life the refined, understated, image conscious Peggy. In the process I learnt alot about being refined, understated and... not very image conscious - although I can put on a set of false nails in about 10 seconds. I also met my band - who are (they don't even need critics to affirm this) brilliant. Quite nice looking too. Although the joy is dampened (literally) when you have to spend night after night in a sweaty theatre dressing room semi-naked with each other.
The opportunities we got from doing the show were amazing and I feel lucky to have even sung a note inside the Festival Hall - let alone carried an entire show with the BBC Big Band...but this is the thing. Just after that gig (2003), I realised that I could feasibly continue playing Peggy until my hair turned the colour of my wig....and I needed to dig underneath the platinum and try to find my (own) voice. So i went to Canada, to a community full of artists and musicians who had drifted as far west as they could go. And learnt something by being quiet for a while. The songs I've put up came from that time. I booked Porcupine studios for a couple of days and got the old band together to see what would happen. Things As They Are is the result. Hopefully, if I can get past the demands of a very small but distracting one year old baby girl, it will be released later this year.
Review Highlights:
It’s that extraordinary voice – treacly and sleepy at rest, filling the room with feeling when she turns it on. The Daily Telegraph
So tight they’re almost vacuum-packed. Time Out
It was said about Fred and Ginger, “She gave him sex and he gave her class.” Well, Kate Dimbleby has both already and it is a killer combination. The Scotsman
Dimbleby is clearly a talent to watch, blessed not only with a great voice but a real gift as a songwriter in her own right. The Sunday Telegraph
One of the most versatile singers on the jazz-blues circuit. The Times
Kate has an intensity of feeling combined with a freedom of spirit that brings to mind legendary singers like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, with a modern feel. Marion Montgomery
She has a wonderful rich, warm, dark voice with power enough in it to give Freddie Mercury a run for his money and pathos enough to sing Elvis Costello’s disturbing and difficult “I Want You”. Financial Times
Dimbleby can sing. A gutsy, raunchy and even soulful rendering of an astonishing range of songs is deliciously coloured by her own velvety inflection. The Stage
A shimmering vocal versatility... she has the musical talent and jewel-eyed confidence to guarantee an audience a good time. London Evening Standard
She fascinates as a performer . . . as comfortable as your best friend, as sexually complex as a Marlene Dietrich. Hot Tickets
hey Kate, thanks for your lovely message, really glad you like my stuff - and the Kirsty MacColl comparison is most definitely a good thing (and not the first time I have heard it) - so thanks again!
Hope the baby madness has lessened - perhaps you'll be doing some gigs soon?
take care
Wendy
**Duvet Tuesday the album available now from itunes and www.wendylloyd.com**
We hope to see you at The Lexington this Wednesday 17th June for the Fleur-de-Lys Club w/ Connan Mockasin, Tim & Sam's Tim & Sam Band and Mathew Sawyer & The Ghosts
Free Whisky drinks courtesy of Buffalo Trace!!!
Email fleurdelysclub [at] gmail.com for £4 conc. list x
We hope to see you at The Lexington this Wednesday 17th June for the Fleur-de-Lys Club w/ Connan Mockasin, Tim & Sam's Tim & Sam Band and Mathew Sawyer & The Ghosts
Free Whisky drinks courtesy of Buffalo Trace!!!
Email fleurdelysclub [at] gmail.com for £4 conc. list x
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 7:30PM 606 Club 90 Lots Road, Chelsea, London SW10 www.606club.co.uk +44 (0)20 7352 5953
The Janette Mason Trio - with an acoustic lineup featuring Asaf Sirkis on Drums and Dudley Phillips on Bass, plus special guests. Not to be missed!!
(Look…I know it’s a Wednesday night…come straight from work and have a few drinks. It would be great to see you!!)
Happy New Year!!!!
Janette
Alien Left Hand -- What the critics say:
“…an album fizzing with fresh ideas and delights, an exhilarating musical journey .. with brilliantly original writing and inspired playing…” -- Helen Mayhew
"At last a follow up to Janette Mason's sparkling debut as leader. Alien Left Hand ....was well worth the wait…” Production **** Performance**** -- BBC Music Magazine
"Every track from the rhythmic ‘NY Cab Ride’ and restless ‘4 Wheel Drive’ to the brooding ‘Mae’s Song’ has a terrific hook but it’s the way Mason switches tempo and moods that makes ALH great fun." -- Diva Magazine
Thanks Kate! It's lovely to be able to come on here and hear you sing again too - you have such a great voice, and it brings back lots of happy memories. Looking forward to listening to the rest of your album...
Beautiful beautiful Kate! I'm so happy you guys are jumping the puddle. I would so love to see a whole lot more of you. Your music sounds great as always. Hope all is well. Love, -A
