Biography of Karen Lane

"Karen Lane is a fresh voice and presence on the UK jazz vocal scene and someone who has the ability to build a substantial career for herself. She has what I would describe as a rare combination of musicianship, technique and just plain "feel": one can sense that, even at this early stage of her European sojourn, her potential is that of someone who could command a worldwide, rather than a merely local, audience." Keith Shadwick Jazz writer and critic

KAREN LANE originally from Perth Western Australia, moved to Sydney in1990. Her initial grounding was the graveyard shift in seedy Kings Cross, with 10 piece original soul funk band, The Hard Word. Her first foray into Jazz quickly followed with the formation of The Eclectics, a sophisticated lounge trio playing standards. She won coveted slots, including headline at 1993 Western Australia¹s York Jazz Festival, and support for the elite British jazz pianist, Julian Joseph, during his 1994 Australian tour, at Sydney¹s premier jazz club the Basement.

In 1993 Lane formed her first original band Deluge and between 1994 and 1997 established her song writing and band leading credentials culminating in the debut of her original acid jazz band, Substance, at the prestigious Bacardi Club for the 1995 Sydney International Arts festival. During this period she also wrote and produced music for a NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) dance production "Appetite" which was featured at the Melbourne International Arts Festival. From her experience as one of the few song writing and band leading females in an Australian music scene dominated by mass marketed, made to order young popstars, Lane conceived the idea that became Bloomers, an independent recording project for women singer songwriters. She secured government funding and recorded 17 women from around Australia. The Bloomers compilation CD was released with considerable national print, radio and TV coverage in August 1998 through Roadshow/Warners music.

In 1997, before Lane relocated to Singapore she recorded her original album titled "Sheherazade 1001 nights", and was subsequently invited back to Australia to perform at the 1998 Go Girl! Festival celebrating International Women¹s Day, to a 10,000 strong crowd in ŒThe Domain¹ Sydney. In Singapore Lane worked extensively singing sessions, writing and performing in various jazz clubs and hotels including the renowned Raffles Hotel.

Since moving to London in 2000, Karen has established a UK audience and released two UK band albums 'Once In A Lifetime' in 2002, and 'Taste' in 2004. A favourite choice for Michael Parkinson’s BBC Radio 2 programme, with the recommendation "A lovely singer Highly Recommended".

After appearing successfully as a duo with Paul Malsom, the UK guitarist, at The Sevenoaks Festival, Karen and Paul decided to record an album of their favourite songs. The result was ‘I Can’t Help It’ that was released in 2006.

All three UK albums are on the ‘33’ label, available from good record stores, and online from www.jazzcds.co.uk.