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SHADES OF BLUE
Two amazing performers in their own right - jazz and soul vocalist Kerry Hodgkin and guitar vocalist Bill McGillivray - join together to create this eclectic duo.
Combining jazz, soul, blues, latin and some pop repertoire in their own unique style, this duo is a great accompaniment to any event, whether laid back or ready to party!
KERRY HODGKIN
Kerry has been singing professionally for longer than she cares to remember. With a vocal range in excess of 3 octaves and a stylistic range that encompasses jazz, swing, soul, pop, rock and musical theatre, Kerry is that rare thing - a truly versatile vocalist.
Her specialist areas are contemporary jazz and soul. Her debut jazz album "...and everything" came out on 33 Records in 2002. She toured with her own Quintet in 2003 with the support of Jazz Services. The band featured Robin Aspland (p), Simon Thorpe (b), Clark Tracey (dr) and Alan Barnes (sax/cl).
Towards the end of 2008 Kerry has recorded the long-awaited second jazz album, combining her blues and soul influences with her jazz sensibilities. This features original material as well as covers of standards and not so standards. This album, produced by Ian Shaw and featuring Janette Mason and Alan Barnes, will be released in 2009.
As a band leader she works with the Kerry Hodgkin Jazz Band, Ladyblue Jazz Band, Ladyblue Function Band, the new Ladyblue Dance Band, Soul Possession and as a guest vocalist with The Sounds of Swing Orchestra.
Kerry is also a writer, a trained actress and is a respected singing teacher and vocal coach.
BILL McGILLIVRAY
Bill comes from Deptford in south east London, and spent much of his formative years in the late 60's playing Guitar in the pubs and clubs around the area dreaming of being a star! He then decided to take things a bit more seriously and went to The Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he studied for 3 years.
During the 70's he worked with many touring bands, and as a backing musician with many visiting american soul artists including: Sam & Dave, The Stylistics, Al Green and Edwin Starr. He worked with Big Jim Sullivan for a while in his group "Tiger" touring and recording on the album "Going Down Laughing", and in the late 70's met his wife (the Soprano Barbara Courtney-King) whilst playing guitar on her album for RCA "Pastourelle", which also featured Julian Lloyd-Webber, the Gabrielli string quartet and Rod Argent.
During the 80's & 90's Bill was busy as session guitarist or singer working on TV, (Royal Variety, Michael Barrimore, Eastenders etc.)
recording on a variety of albums with Chris de Burgh, Michael Ball, Alan Parsons Project & Andrew Lloyd-Webber and working on several west-end shows: Grease, Charlie Girl (Guitar) and Cats, Starlight Express (Vocal Booth).
Presently Bill has returned to his first love "Jazz" and can be seen playing Solo, in a variety of Duos (with Piano, Double Bass or Sax), or with his Trio. He also accompanies Jazz singers Sophie Garner and Kerry Hodgkin.
Bill is also very active in music education. He started teaching guitar in the 80's, at first just privately and then in 1985 at Wellington College in Berkshire. He left Wellington in 1999 and presently Teaches Guitar at Berkhamsted Collegiate School in Berkhamsted and Abbott's Hill School In Kings Langley.
He has also been associated with the Registry of Guitar Tutors for several years, and is an examiner for their grade exams which are run in conjunction with the London College of Music.
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