Biography

Welcome to my world.

My introduction to the entertainment business started with acting in school plays and singing in the school choir!

My interest in jazz began in my teenage years when I heard the song 'Good Morning Heartache' on the radio, but it was not until I finished university that I started to listen to jazz recordings from some great female vocalists like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and Dinah Washington. These were all early influences on my path towards the jazz world.

Inspired by these artists, I enrolled at jazz singing classes in Richmond, Surrey and was introduced to new jazz vocalists and instrumental jazz recordings.

My participation in open mic nights and jazz jams began and residential jazz courses and workshops in the UK and in Europe followed. Alongside my jazz education I continued to act and was a member of two theatre groups based in Kingston and Barnes but since 2000 my focus has been on jazz music.

I have sung at private functions at numerous venues in the UK since 2002, with regular performances at the Grove Bar and Restaurant in Hammersmith between 2008 and 2009.

More recently I have performed at several music festivals in the UK.

I try and sing a little every day and I still sing occasionally at jazz jams - you can never stop learning about jazz.

Esmé.