Juliet
recorded her debut album Aphrodite's Child (33 Records)
in 2003. It featured Juliet's original songs and garnered
excellent reviews from critics in the UK and the US as
well as widespread radio airplay. A successful UK tour
followed with sell-out and capacity audiences at venues
across the country. Her songwriting ability has also been
widely praised and she took honours in the jazz category
of the 2004 International Songwriting Competition.
In
2005, Juliet performed with top UK jazz saxophonist Courtney
Pine in a live broadcast for BBC4's Jazz Britannia season
at the Barbican. This was followed by two successful sell-out
concerts in Russia and her debut US performance that took
place at New York's Sweet Rhythm jazz club.
Juliet's
second album, Delicious Chemistry (Chantiko), further
showcased her talents for writing laid-back, accessible
jazz. The album - which was released at the end of 2005
- featured her regular band that included Mercury award-winning
drummer Seb Rochford and a guest appearance from Courtney
Pine. Juliet also appeared as a guest vocalist on Courtney
Pine's album Resistance in the same year.
In
2006 Juliet opened for the Grammy-award winning vocal
group Take 6 as part of the London Jazz Festival at the
Barbican and saw demand for her accessible jazz spread
overseas leading to more sell-out shows in Germany, Greece
and Russia.
Licorice
Kiss (Purple Stiletto) released in 2009, is Juliet's third
album. Referencing influences as diverse as Soul II Soul,
the Eurythmics and Soft Cell, she offers up her own take
on some 80's classics alongside her own creations that
range from toe-tapping grooves to latin-inflected ballads.
Juliet
ended 2009 with an Arts Council sponsored tour around
the UK and a sell-out show at the Pizza Express Jazz Club
in London for the London Jazz Festival. More sell-out
shows followed at Christmas in Athens and in March 2010,
Juliet delighted a capacity audience at the Philharmonic
Hall in Ulan-Ude, Eastern Siberia. 2011 has seen Juliet
attracting a new Asian fanbase with four very well received
club dates in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and she has also
been booked to play four festivals in Greece with the
Dimitri Vassilakis Quartet throughout the summer.
Juliet's
newest project entitled Celebrating the Divas of Jazz
is a tribute to the jazz singers past and present who
have inspired and influenced her. Including songs from
Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, this performance
not only showcases popular favourites but also introduces
lesser-known gems. Juliet and her band completed two successful
sell-out UK tours in spring and autumn 2011 with this
new project that brought jazz to new audiences. Later
in the year, the singer made several trips abroad with
visits to Russia, Hong Kong and Athens including a debut
performance at legendary Moscow venue The Society of Composers.
Juliet has also been busy writing songs and plans to record
a new album in spring 2012.
Worked with musicians ...
Courtney
Pine, Talvin Singh, Jim Mullen, John Etheridge, Gary Crosby,
Orphy Robinson, Alex Wilson, Seb Rochford, Dimitri Vassilakis,
Tony Kofi, Kate Williams, Tony Remy, Jason Yarde, Byron
Wallen, Omar Puente, Roger Beaujolais, Carleen Anderson,
Julie Dexter, Dimitri Vassilakis, Kit Downes...
Press Quotes...
"an
original talent rare amongst those who would call themselves
jazz singers" JAZZWISE
"With
her honey-tone vocals, insightful, personal lyrics, savvy
original songs and intelligent choice of covers, she effortlessly
mixes jazz, soul, pop and funk... one of the UK's finest
singers in any genre." TIME OUT
"An
astute mix of new songs and enlightening covers... full
of sophisticated funkiness and sumptuous multi-layered
vocals." YORKSHIRE EVENING POST
"Like
most long-loved albums Delicious Chemistry demands repeated
listening... you'll want to play it to everyone you know."
BBC MUSIC
"Delicious
Chemistry is one of the most innovative, personal and
moving jazz records I have heard in ages."
JAZZ NOT JAZZ
"A
young Londoner with film star looks, Juliet Kelly serves
up a good first recording that begs for listening by adherents
of jazz and pop-jazz." DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE (US)
"It’s
a cliche to talk of an assured debut, but Ms Kelly demonstrates
frightening maturity, writing, producing and performing
as if she’d been doing it for years." RONNIE
SCOTT'S MAGAZINE
"[one
of] the UK's finest female jazz stars" JAZZWISE
"one
to watch" THE INDEPENDENT (The Five Best Gigs)
"Wonderfully
soulful, velvet-voiced singer - one of the jazz scene's
best kept secrets" TIME OUT
"An
excellent album" HUMPHREY LYTTLETON, BBC RADIO
2
"An
impressive debut CD from this highly distinctive singer,
whose warm tones and engaging delivery bring these songs
to life." JAZZ UK
"A
highly recommended album" JAZZ CONNECTION, BBC
RADIO WALES
"[A]
full-bodied, richly complex vocal timbre, complex vocal
timbre, combining a honeyed sweetness with flashes of
steel... Her talent is clear." JAZZWISE
"Ms.
Kelly has a warm, rich, lush, natural instrument... the
album casts a luminous spell, with mesmerizing rhythms
and haunting lyrics. With this auspicious a debut, Ms.
Kelly is a talent whose future contributions will be eagerly
awaited." ALL ABOUT JAZZ
"Soulful,
dignified, somewhat Cleo Laine-like..." THE GUARDIAN
"Like
so many great jazz songstresses, her voice is powerful
but always in control… Her entire performance gives
an air of perfection without the perception of over-preparation."
JAZZREVIEW.COM
"A
natural communicator. She sings a song sweetly and simply…
and it works like a dream." ROGER VAN SCHAICK,
OXFORD TIMES
What the musicians say...
"Every
now and then a new voice with a fresh attitude arrives
on the jazz scene, that voice is here within the soul
of Juliet Kelly ... The new voice on the UK jazz scene."
DR COURTNEY PINE C.B.E (Saxophonist)
"Juliet
has a unique approach to singing; intimate, rhythmic and
relaxed, with a smooth, rich voice, great intonation,
and an uncliched approach to improvisation."
CARL ORR (Guitarist)
"Juliet
Kelly has a great voice and sings from her heart, combining
an ear to the contemporary with a deep love for the jazz
tradition." SIMON PURCELL (Pianist)
"Juliet
has a beautiful presence and a beautiful voice which mysteriously
manages to be both dark and light at the same time."
TESSA SOUTER (Vocalist)
"Juliet
sings beautifully. Her ballad singing is hauntingly sensual
and her tunes are great too. A sensitive and emotional
vocalist with sophisticated phrasing." CHRISTIAN
BREWER (Saxophonist)
"Juliet
has a beautiful voice. A combinatino of lovely tone and
great control. She is a beautiful, talented jazz singer
and she knocked me when I heard her singing."
FREDDIE KING (Vocalist)
"Juliet
has a dynamic voice. She has a rich tone and a great sense
of time. Her band is a real swinging unit
and the choice of repertoire stands out from the crowd.
Great originals." JAMI SHERIFF (Pianist)
What the audience / listeners say...
"Came
to the gig at the Albert Hall yesterday- had a fab time!
Loved it! Great music, great voice and great band! Particularly
liked the version of 'Tainted Love'- so much better than
the original!!" (Aug 2011)
"Juliet,
you gave a fantastic performance at the Jazz Cafe POSK!
You have an amazing voice and personality and the audience
just loved you! No wonder - you made us all your backing
singers! :) I look forward to your next concert - till
then I will be listening to your CD - I have already played
it several times!" (Mar 2011)
"We
loved you in Hexham! Come back soon. It was a brilliant
night of superb music and singing." (Feb 2011)
"Juliet
.. just got home after your gig in Maidstone. Wonderful
evening. Very intimate venue; sitting so close to you
and the band was a real joy. Your 'I wish you love' number
really plucked at the heart strings .. one of the ladies
I was with lost her husband a few months ago, and she
was deeply moved by the lyrics." Mark, Maidstone,
UK
"I
have just received Delicious Chemistry, which I ordered
through the web-site. Absolutely brilliant. Many congratulations,
Juliet, on a masterpiece." Ken, London, UK
"Saw
you at the Bulls Head last Sunday Have been waiting for
this since I saw you on tv - Jazz Britannia at the Barbican.
You are even better in the flesh!" Ray, Twickenham,
UK
"There's
a lot of great music trapped in the walls of the 'Bulls
Head' - if only we could unlock it. You added to it last
night. Two sets of great music delivered with charm and
energy. You shined even through the poor lighting and
connected so well. Lovely trio, lovely night - thanks."
Frank & Christine, Uxbridge, UK
"Really
enjoyed your gig at the Eastside last night. I would have
bought a CD, but I was bit low on cash, but will do in
the very near future! Lovely voice, please come again."
Ian, London, UK
"Juliet,
I wasn't much into Jazz until I heard your CD... Les Nubians
got me interested but you Juliet have got me hooked on
jazz." Mo, London, UK
"I
just got the CD this week. I live every song. I am looking
forward to the next CD." MJ, Columbia, MD, USA
"Saw
you perform in Sheffield a few weeks ago, thanks for a
great evening- you're very talented, my friend and I really
enjoyed your music. So much so that at the end of the
gig we spoke to you and i think we were perhaps a little
sycophantic!" Wesley, Sheffield, UK
"Saw
and heard you at Hifi Club last night, you have a lovely
voice- keep singing. The website is really well designed
too!" Rebecca, Leeds, UK
"Have
enjoyed your music Juliet. Look forward to seeing you
perform live. You have what it takes to go far TALENT
which shines through in your songs." Richard,
Northern Ireland, UK
"Thanx
4 a great gig last night in Bedford. Great music from
a great quartet. Some lovely songs of heartache and yearning,
but I'm fantasising now about a Punk cover version of
Garden of Eden!" Kevin, Milton Keynes, UK
"Went
to the gig Sat, got the cd, where's the t-shirt? played
the cd over and over again. Love the lyrics. Interesting
arrangement of a classic. Great band,please lets see you
again." Martin, Bedford, UK
