Biography of Brigitte Beraha

Fresh take on jazz standards and 2 original songs, featuring Brigitte Beraha-voice, Ingrid Laubrock-tenor sax, Barry Green-piano, Phil Donkin-double bass, George Hart-drums & guest singer Anita Wardell.
Born in 1977 in Milan to Turkish and British parents, Brigitte lived in the South of France before moving to London in 1996. In 2001 she obtained a music degree at Goldsmiths College in London where she now gives Jazz Improvisation and Vocal Workshops.
In 2002 Brigitte completed the Jazz Postgraduate Course at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music. Within a few short years in the UK she attracted the attention of Kenny Wheeler and Rufus Reid. On hearing her debut album Kenny wrote back enthusiastically about her song writing and arranging abilities: “I especially liked ‘Got No Blues’ and ‘Sunlight On Your Face’, and a real nice version of ‘Love for Sale’’. Rufus wrote: “Perhaps the most impressive to me is Brigitte's clarity, conviction and the program........ congratulations on an excellent recording.”
Brigitte has performed with many great musicians including: John Parricelli & Mitch Dalton (guitar), Noel Langley & Kenny Wheeler (trumpet), Malcolm Earl Smith (trombone), Ingrid Laubrock, Pete King, Alan Barnes, Julian Siegel, Mark Hanslip & Frank Griffith (sax), Alec Dankworth, Chris Laurence, Malcolm Creese (double bass), Liam Noble, Jim Watson (piano)
2007-Spring UK Trio Tour from 29th May to 15th June/ Brussels International Jazz Singers competition/ London Jazz Festival. 2006- Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, USA, with Carmen Lundy, George Cables & Curtis Fuller/ Aberdeen Jazz Festival 2005 – Proms in the Park, Maidstone /Manchester Jazz Festival /London Jazz Festival 2004 – tour of France with the Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra / Jazzmandu / Manchester Jazz Festivals
London: Vortex / Pizza on the Park / Spice of Life / Peter de Wit’s Café / Pizza Express / Ray’s Jazz / National Theatre/ Queen Elizabeth Hall / Smollenski's / Cafe de Paris / St Paul's Cathedral / St Thomas & Guy's Hospitals Other: Bulls Head, Barnes/ Funky Jazz Club, Reading / Cliffs Pavilion, Southend / Jagz Jazz Club, Ascot / The Blue Lamp, Jazz Aberdeen/ Zeffirelli's, Cumbria and venues all around the UK. Hosted a popular Jazz Club & jam session night weekly for 9 months in London.
Brigitte is equally at home in English, French, Italian and Portuguese. Her genuine & expressive singing captivates audiences. Her debut album “ Prelude to a Kiss” heard on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Best of Jazz’, Jazz FM’s ‘Dinner Jazz’, on Scottish, Irish, European and Brazilian radios is out on FMR records. Brigitte has also just finished recording her 2nd Album, a project of original melodic contemporary Jazz tinged with world and latin flavours, which will be out in 2008.
"..When a new singer comes on the scene it is tempting to compare her with others that have gone before if only to try and inform the listener what to expect in terms of style and content.
In this case think of the sound of Norma Winstone, the groove of Flora Purim, the swing of Annie Ross and a dash of Anita O'Day in the phrasing...let's face it they don't come much better. But that is not to say that Brigitte is in any way derivative..." Lee Gibson - from the liner notes