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Catch up with all of Ingrid's News


07/09/2012

Courier Mail Article
View the PDF Article here

11/06/2012

Upcoming Tour in August/September 2012
Hi all, some great news, as you may be aware I recorded an album in LA in December 2011. It was launched in LA in March 2012. Now the extra great news is that Bill Watrous, Jim Lewis, Randy Drake & Frank Villafranca (as well as arranger Dave Cushman) are coming to Queensland, Australia to run workshops/clinics and perform with me. We are starting off at the Broadbeach Jazz Festival on 19th August, then heading to and headlining Magnetic Island Jazz Festival on the 24th-26th August, Townsville, Toowoomba and finally Brisbane @ The Spiegeltent on the 9th September. Please watch out for Tour details and if you are interested in the music from the latest album, LOST MY HEART is available on my website as well as itunes, Amazon, www.cdbaby.com
Hope to see you at some of these events!
All the best Ingrid

20/12/2011

Recording in Los Angeles
Hi all
Well the recording was a blast in LA with San Gabriel 7 and the wonderful Bill Watrous on trombone. The recording is being mixed between December and January and I fly back to LA in March to launch the CD at Catalina's on the 20th March.
If you are keen to know more about this CD or would like to pre-order, just send me a message via the website. It should be ready by March 2012!
All the best for a wonderful Christmas.
Cheers Ingrid

09/10/2011

Upcoming recording project in LA
Hi all
I'm really looking forward to recording in LA later this year
with the amazing jazz/latin/funk ensemble San Gabriel Seven - bandleader, Jim Lewis and arrangements by Dave Cushman. Another featured artist on the album with be the incredible Bill Watrous on trombone. I haven't recorded with a horn section before so really looking forward to this project. I'll keep you posted along the way! Cheers Ingrid

20/09/2011

Pangaea now available!
PANGAEA - Ingrid James and the Global Collective
(Nationally released by Newmarket Music on 17th September 2011
CATALOGUE NO: NEW9295.2
BARCODE: 9317102329429
AVAILABLE in retail stores, itunes, www.newmarketmusic.com &
from ingridjames@optusnet.com.au


PANGAEA REVIEWS
"This collection of covers of material from the 1970s and 80s by Ingrid James and The Global Collective is no nostalgic, sound-alike trip down memory lane. Nor is it an attempt to cash in on the musical flavour-of-the-month with squeaky adolescent vocals or rapping. It is a set of musically intelligent arrangements by trumpeter Paul Armstrong and multi-instrumentalist Todd Harrison performed by artists from quite literally around the world. The music draws together influences from South and Central America, jazz, bluegrass, folk and popular music. Such a project is only made possible (with a budget in the hundreds of thousands) through the advent of 21st century digital technology, and we are the luckier for it....Ingrid James' extraordinary range is showcased as her voice is variously warm and engaged, cool or contemplative, clear, or soft and hushed. Her diction is flawless... "The outstanding musicians in the Global Collective have asked themselves what these classic songs are really about and approached their material with fresh ears. The result is a refreshing new perspective on our musical past which points us towards a healthy musical future."
Louise Denson, Head of Jazz Studies, Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

Pangaea "is the title of this unique album whose members have bridged time and distance to create music that is challenging, beguiling, powerful and thoughtful. The players hail from widely separate locations as Australia, the United States, Nicaragua, France and Russia... Core members - Australian vocalists Ingrid James along with Texas-based musicians Paul Armstrong (Austin) and Todd Harrison (Houston) limned out repertoire and conception via email and skype..." All the songs "were hits during the 70s and 80s - nuggets from a rich lode of material...yet this is in no way a tribute album of the sort where lesser performers slavishly emulate their heroes. Rather, this a lovingly crafted revitalisation of repertoire from a richly musical era...Vocally speaking this is Ingrid James' album. Renowned for her clarity of diction and flawless pitch, she's funky to the max on Fame, beguilingly convincing on Kerry Livgren's Dust in the Wind and Latin savvy on Suzanne Vega's slow tango, Caramel. The word "pangaea"- derives from the ancient Greek words "pan" meaning "entire" and "gaia" meaning "earth". No other word expresses the spirit of Ingrid James & The Global Collective. This is music that bridges cultures and makes virtue of diversity. It has a freshness, vigour and soul..."
David Bentley - Australian pianist/singer/songwriter/journalist.

"Paul and Todd have taken various tunes that might be somewhat unexpected and slightly obscure in this present day, and re-arranged them into unbelievable versions of same, and adding the superb vocals of Ingrid James to top everything off... Highly recommended!!!"
Bobby Shew, US Jazz trumpet.

"Pangaea is not the fast-food version of today's albums. In fact, in order to fully enjoy this recording, you will have to get over yourself and your pre-conceived notions of what your ears are telling you is coming next. There are surprises around every corner, and it feels like James and the Global Collective set out to do just that... This music in not saccharine. Ingrid James vocals are like the perfect glass of wine with your meal, and the musical arrangements from Armstrong and Harrison form a bedrock of flavour from which a plethora of ingredients spring forth. Guitars, strings, saxophones, and a ton of percussion await you, and again, challenge you and your musical ears."
Andrew Layton, Freelance Saxophonist, Washington D.C.

"The musicianship is first class. The production is of international quality. The arrangements are wonderful and Ingrid's vocals are superb. She is a singer's singer - never tries to overdo it - just does it right. It's not easy taking a well known song and arrangement - change it dramatically from the original and have it accepted. We tend to fall in love with the original and can't see beyond that, but if they are done with passion, care and consideration, they can work beautifully and that is apparent with this album."
Peter Cupples, Australian singer/songwriter/producer

"Using an abundance of musical textures, color splashes and mixture of feelings, Ingrid James carefully takes her listeners through a captivating odyssey on her new album Pangaea. The Pangaea Theory puts forth the theory that the world's separate land masses were at one time unified as a super continent. Pangaea does not seek to reconnect the vast real estate puzzle, but as the subtitle, "The Global Collective" proclaims, it united musicians and ideas from around the world onto one audio sphere. With the able help of Paul Armstrong and Todd Harrison, the adventurous kaleidoscope of sound spins an eclectic panorama influenced by Baez, Miles Metheny, Jobim and The Carpenters through strings, horns, bass, drums, electronics and Ingrid's impeccable and amazingly beautiful voice".

Pangaea opens with Fame - a relentless rhythmical groove laid firmly in place from start to finish by one of the most explosive set drummers of our day, Todd Harrison. Arranger Paul Armstrong is heard on synthesized voices and muted trumpet. The listener will at once find himself in the spirit of Pangaea as Fame swirls about delivering a montage of music. Armstrong and Harrison converge on the Fame Remix, working an arrangement for Ingrid to moan and wait with funky, robotic voicings. Her tightly knit cast of top-shelf musicians resonate the funk with a bell tolling across the landscape. The groove vibrates concluding statements that confirm this presentation is loaded with unexpected turns. On Caramel Ingrid James' pure toned voice drips with emotion with the underpinnings of strings and guitars. Her disciplined delivery is mouthwatering, hitting each word with pristine clarity while accenting each thought with a silky, sultry resonance. Then pushing 240, the rhythm section is way up tempo from what the Carpenters did on the original recording of Close to You, Ingrid flies in over the top floating, twisting and turning with dreamy expressions on the head, laying on an array of long tones that demand a balance of control and endurance. The bridge pulls the rhythm section back and focuses the listener on her range, and she does not disappoint! Behind Ingrid is Paul's harmon muted trumpet, African chants and Middle Eastern accents all spinning sound and emotion...."
Mark Channon, USA Jazz Radio Presenter (WWUH Radio, W. Hartford, CT; WAPJ, Torrington, CT; WDJW, Somers, CT; WWEB, Wallingford, CT)

17/09/2011

Pangaea CD Release tomorrow
My humbles apologies. The draft message was sent which was a little out of date.

I just wanted to let you know that I have a CD launch tomorrow at The Brisbane Jazz Club at 7.30pm. We will play some tracks from my latest national release PANGAEA - The Global Collective (A USA/Australian co-production with the very talented Texas based musicians Paul Armstrong and Todd Harrison plus a multitude of musicians from around the world). At the Jazz Club the night will feature John Reeves, Andrew Shaw, Paul Hudson, Laura James, Kristy Whiteley, Spencer Whiteley and George Jackson on violin.

If you can't come and are interested in the new release, please visit my website www.ingridjames.com

If you like music from the 70's and 80's - classic tunes from Bowie, Kansas, Janis Ian, etc., and you don't might them re-worked and reharmonised with Latin rhythms and world music influences, this is the CD for you.

All the very best and thanks for your ongoing support.

Ingrid

16/09/2011

CD Launch this Saturday


This Saturday 17th September I will be doing a soft launch of
Pangaea - The Global Collective (a CD project with USA musicians Paul Armstrong and Todd Harrison). It will be held at the Brisbane Jazz Club (bookings via www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au) 7.30pm start.

I look forward to seeing you there. The CD will be available on itunes, in stores and through my website.

All the very best

Ingrid

16/09/2011

Pangaea - The Global Collective
My humbles apologies. The draft message was sent which was a little out of date.

I just wanted to let you know that I have a CD launch tomorrow at The Brisbane Jazz Club at 7.30pm. We will play some tracks from my latest national release PANGAEA - The Global Collective (A USA/Australian co-production with the very talented Texas based musicians Paul Armstrong and Todd Harrison plus a multitude of musicians from around the world). At the Jazz Club the night will feature John Reeves, Andrew Shaw, Paul Hudson, Laura James, Kristy Whiteley, Spencer Whiteley and George Jackson on violin.

If you can't come and are interested in the new release, please visit my website www.ingridjames.com

If you like music from the 70's and 80's - classic tunes from Bowie, Kansas, Janis Ian, etc., and you don't might them re-worked and reharmonised with Latin rhythms and world music influences, this is the CD for you.

All the very best and thanks for your ongoing support.

Ingrid

04/02/2010

New Album "Reunion"
Hi all
Last year in July 2009, I recorded a long-awaited album with long time friend and colleague, Trudy Kerr (who has been based in London for 20 years).
It will be released in the UK this year and I will
be touring with Trudy, Geoff Gascoyne, Tom Cawley and Sebasian de Krom end of September/early October.
Trudy will also come to Australia to help launch the CD over here. More details to be posted soon.

04/02/2010

The Global Collective CD Release in 2010
Hi again
It's going to be quite a year. I recorded an album with very talented musicians from the USA a couple of years ago and that CD is finally going to be released this year in the USA and hopefully Australia. It's a different kind of project for me.
If it had to be described effectively, I would say it comes under the WORLD/ROOTS/JAZZ category.
Using 70's/80's contemporary/classic repertoire from Bowie, Kansas, The Who, Crowded House, etc.,
arrangements have given this tunes somewhat of a twist without losing the essence of the songs, perhaps with one or two exceptions! Look out for it. I'll keep you posted.

17/10/2009

Wild Silk @ Brisbane Jazz Club
Louise Denson and I have been working on more originals
and other material recently. We've given our project a name - WILD SILK and tonight we're looking forward to playing at the Brisbane Jazz Club with special guest from Sydney, Sandy Evans on tenor and soprano saxes - also John Stefulj on woodwinds and percussion, Helen Russell on bass and Lyle Denman on drums.

09/08/2009

Circumflex
The CIRCUMFLEX is the most important coronary artery.
It supplies the mitral valve, which is the anatomic centre of the body and is considered by many to be the seat of the SOUL.

30/06/2009

New recording in London !
Hi all
just finished recording an album with long time friend and jazz singer Trudy Kerr in London. The band line up is amazing...with Geoff Gascoyne on bass (also arranger for most of the album), Sebastian de Krom on drums and Tom Cawley on piano. Trudy and I hope to release the album either late 2009 or early 2010.
cheers Ingrid

11/06/2009

ABC LIMELIGHT MAGAZINE REVIEW
Ingrid James & John Reeves
Circumflex
Newmarket Music NEW3262.2
3 ½ stars
Few jazz singers attempt nor succeed recording with solely piano accompaniment but James’s areabile tone and precise pitch hits the mark with a mixture of classics, jazz standards and contemporary tunes, given unfamiliar treatment in both tempo and accented phrasing; ‘Yesterdays’ finale recalls Betty Carter’s sublime bent about notes; ‘Just one of those Things’ rapid tempo is a lesson in agility and breath control while ‘Devil May Care’ is one of the finest I’ve heard. Weaker material like Eric Clapton’s ‘Strange Brew’ and Brian Wilson’s ‘God Only Knows’ receive undue credibility and thoughtful backing with tasty filling from UK pianist John Reeves.
Peter Wockner (for ABC Limeline Magazine June 2009)

02/04/2009

Newmarket Music Blog
02/04/2009 Ingrid James News!

Ingrid James, along with John Reeves released 'Circumflex' at the start of 2009 and they've reached April with so many achievements! Recently they launched the release in Sydney & Brisbane (competing with the QLD elections the same night!) to sell out crowds. Ingrid, along with John Reeves & Andrew Shaw play the Gold Coast this week on the 5th (this Sunday from 3-6pm) at the Tallai Country Golf Club, Worongary Road, Tallai, Gold Coast, Cost: $30.

Ingrid James John Reeves Andrew Shaw @ Tallai Country Golf Club, Worongary Road Tallai, Gold Coast 3pm to 6pm CD LAUNCH

But in January Ingrid braved the cold weather of the USA to do some gigs, here is a review from Cathy Segal-Garcia about her performance.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW @ THE JAZZ BAKERY, LOS ANGELES - 18TH JANUARY 2009 (Cathy Segal-Garcia)

On January 18th, 2009...I started the first in a new series called "The Singers' Roundtable" It featured myself as the Interviewer, interviewing Australian vocalist Ingrid James (Ingrid was, as always, visually & performance wise - brilliant. Her expression, clarity & vocal control thrilled the audience...) and vocalist Tierney Sutton (Tierney is among the most subtle and nuanced of jazz singers; for her, detail and considered interpretation are inextricably linked with expressiveness) On hand was pianist Karen Hammack (Perfect sense of swing, totally sensitive, outstanding player in all styles..)to play for impromptu spontaneous musical outbursts!

Tune into ABC Brisbane 612 for Richard Fidler's show on May 1st as Ingrid will be on the airwaves chatting about and playing tracks that influenced 'Circumflex' http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s1869500.htm?site=brisbane

Ingrid is also planning her appearance at the Cap Jazz Festival in France for August, so all fans in France, keep it in your calendar!

So if you haven't yet purchased Circumflex head to Itunes or purchase it here on our site or order it through your favourite retailer!
Cheers! Newmarket Music www.newmarketmusic.com

29/03/2009

CIRCUMFLEX CD REVIEWS
CIRCUMFLEX – REVIEWS – INGRID JAMES & JOHN REEVES (NEWMARKET MUSIC)
Award-winning jazz singer Ingrid James and UK pianist John Reeves have recorded a duo album of contemporary and classic standards as well as material from the Beatles to the Beach Boys. The approach to much of the recording was inspired by 'live' performances where so often trying something for the first time delivers a unique arrangement and special qualities. They work as an organic unit, weaving melodies, textures and rhythms to express a personal interpretation of these songs and the endless possibilities they present. Circumflex is a stunning vocal and piano duo album full of live energy, warmth and deep emotion.


"Think of a warm, assured style that hankers back to the jazz 'cool' of an Anita O'Day and Chris Connor and other like stylists, Think of a voice that can use dynamics in a subtle, delightfully restrained, way, think, lastly, of a singer who, expertly backed by regular accompanist-pianist John Reeves, puts her own unforgettable stamp on everything from Cole Porter to Lennon-McCartney and you'll want to hear more from this new Ingrid James' CD." - Neville Meyers, Jazz Writer/Lecturer in Jazz Styles and Innovation, Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University.


CD REVIEW: “CIRCUMFLEX” Ingrid James & John Reeves

As a Jazz Presenter you are always awaiting a CD that is “Different, Daring” and most importantly, “Enjoyable”

A few days ago, Mark Goring from Newmarket Music, sent me such a CD….“CIRCUMFLEX”. A VOCAL/PIANO DUET by two of Australia’s finest musicians, Ingrid James and John Reeves. Ingrid had told me she and John were preparing, rehearsing and finally recording.

I had not heard any tracks previously so I was unprepared for what was to follow.

As I was playing the opening track…”Slow, Hot, Wind” I knew this CD was different, daring and enjoyable.

Let Ingrid’s voice MELT you with “Yesterdays”, Lennon/McCartney’s “And I Love Him” and then be amazed as Ingrid uses her voice as an extended instrument in Charlie Haden’s “First Song for Ruth”. and then….More Surprises? …..Oh Yes…An up tempo version for Porter’s “Just One of Those Things and Mulligan’s jazz standard “Line for Lyons”. The versatility of Ingrid’s voice is again verified with her bewitching versions of “Gentle Rain” and “Beautiful Love”.

I have not forgotten John. Those rich left hand chords in contrast to the soft delicate chords and single right hand trebles - a perfect accompanist. Ingrid and John have been playing music together for a couple of years. They have developed understanding, respect and musical affection for each other’s capabilities.

“CIRCUMFLEX” beautiful word with several meanings….This CD is aptly titled…Ingrid and John perform in the true meaning of the word.

“CIRCUMFLEX” a CD that is Different, Daring and Enjoyable. Thank you Ingrid and John for many hours of musical pleasure.
BRIAN FANE………Jazz Presenter - Noosa Community Radio FM101.3




“From sweetly normal renditions to surprising creative artistry, brimming with colour, nuance and fine musicianship. This is a superb album. Warm, gorgeous vocals with deft rhythmical piano –a superb duet feel –” Sharny Russell, singer, pianist, composer, music teacher
"The fabulous Ingrid James has done it again. This time she has teamed up with John Reeves which shows Ingrid has impeccable taste when it comes to choosing a musical partner. Henri Mancini's Slow Hot Wind sets the pace for what is an exciting musical journey of thirteen tracks that aren't usually in a jazz singer's basket of goodies. I will leave others to praise the dynamics, the arrangements and such, and just say Ingrid and John make a great team and this is a "must have' disc." Carole Hayes Shoalhaven Radio, Nowra.


26/08/2008

Upcoming recording project
On the 10th and 11th of September, John Reeves and I will be recording a piano duo CD on the Gold Coast. We've been working as a duo for a while now and decided it was time to put something down. So watch this space for news about our upcoming CD.