Clare Teal, the full story

Clare Teal .. the story so far

Clare is one of the UK’s most celebrated and much loved jazz singers, as well as a prolific recording artist and popular BBC Radio 2 broadcaster. To date she has recorded and released 14 albums to public and critical acclaim. Her stunning voice, encyclopaedic knowledge of jazz, swing and big band music, and her innate warmth and wit have made Clare one of the most sought after singers and broadcasters in the country.

After signing to independent label Candid in 2001 and releasing three acclaimed titles, it was Clare’s first album for Sony Jazz which became her breakthrough record. Released in 2004, ‘Don’t Talk’ topped the Jazz charts and entered the UK Top 20, garnering extraordinary plaudits and several awards. She has gone on to release eight more successful albums, 5 of them on her own label MUD Records.

As a live artist, Clare has performed across the length and breadth of the UK and across the globe. Her shows are renowned not only for her stunning vocals and great song choices, but also because she has deservedly developed a reputation as one of our most entertaining and witty performers. Clare loves working with large and small ensemble groups and performs with orchestras, big bands and most regularly with her trio, in 2013 she formed her own Big band, and a year later created a 16 piece Hollywood Band for a show celebrating the music of Doris Day. She has a particular passion for the Great American Songbook and more recently the Great British Songbook. Her love of the great female singers of our time has led her to develop her show ‘The Divas and Me!’ celebrating the leading lights of the jazz and big band world, including Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland and Anita O’Day.

Highlights of Clare’s live work include opening twice for Liza Minnelli at Kenwood House and the Royal Festival Hall, singing with the BBC Big Band at Proms in the Park, headlining the Bourbon Street tent at Glastonbury Festival, performing regularly at the world renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, storming the Marlborough Jazz Festival with her Big Band and performing with the 100 piece Halle Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall. A career pinnacle for Clare was producing, presenting and performing her own Prom during the 2014 Proms Season at the Royal Albert Hall. ‘Battle of the Bands Duke Ellington v Count Basie’ was filmed before a capacity crowd, broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio 2 & 3 and was the most viewed prom of 2014 on BBC Four.

Clare is now a cherished and respected broadcaster. She presents her own 2 hour live show on BBC Radio 2 featuring the best of swing and big band music.

Clare won British Jazz Singer of the year in both 2005 and 2007, and BBC Jazz Singer of the Year in 2006. She was awarded Arts & Entertainment Personality of the Year in 2004 & 2011 Yorkshire Awards and was awarded a much coveted Gold Badge by BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors) in 2011.

Clare’s future plans include touring her tribute to the legendary Doris Day accompanied by her 16 piece Hollywood Band, further shows with The Clare Teal Big Band. In addition she will continue to tour with her Mini Big Band and perform with her beloved trio. She has just released her 14^th album, At Your Request and is appearing with Van Morrison on his newly released album DUETS: Re-Working the Catalogue. With continued appearances on the BBC and now Sky Arts, 2015 is going to be as busy as ever.