It was a pleasure to play with guitarist Matt Wall last week at the Cubar Latin Jazz Thursday sessions!  This week we have a real treat – Imogen Ryall on vocals, read on for info from her website…

See you Thursday 3rd April, 8.30pm, Cubar, 5 Preston St, £free.

Imogen made her singing debut at the age of 17 supporting Kathy Stobart at The Chichester Jazz Festival, broadcast on Radio 2. She later went on to study jazz at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and, after a brief stint with NYJO, began making regular appearances on the London jazz scene. Her first CD “Alone Together” with guitarist, Andy Williams was much championed by Jazz FM’s Sarah Ward, describing Imogen as having “a very lovely voice indeed” and her second, “Waltz for Ruth”, recorded during a 3 year residency at the Dorchester Hotel, featured her partner Roderick Hart, piano and Dave Green, double bass, also featured on Jazz FM and BBC Radio Sussex.

She has performed in Europe, the middle east, South Korea and at venues closer to home including London’s Jazz Cafe; 606 Club; Ronnie Scott’s and the Barbican Hall and has worked with many of the country’s finest jazz artists including Julian Nicholas, Bobby Wellins, Liam Noble, Geoff Simkins, the Andy Panayi Big Band, Spike Wells, Mark Bassey and Jim Mullen.

Imogen’s extensive repertoire also encompasses a number of ‘vocalese’ compositions and she has written lyrics to various standards and solos including ‘Waltz for Ruth’, Charlie Haden; ‘All Across the City’, Jim Hall ‘My Little Suede Shoes’, Charlie Parker and ‘Last Train Home’ by Pat Metheny.

She is also a featured vocalist for One51 and Groovefinder Records with writer/producer Richard Earnshaw on Jazz/House tracks‘Summer Rain’, ‘Joy Ride’ and ‘Summer Sun’ and her recent recording of ‘Cry Me a River’ is featured on the much acclaimed CD ‘In Time’ alongside Roy Ayers, Carleen Anderson and Jocelyn Brown. “Imogen’s rendition works effortlessly with the modern grooves across the whole package without losing the jazz touch”Frank Ainsworth, Pressure Radio. Following the ‘In Time’ album launch at the Jazz Café, London Richard Ashie of Blues and Soul magazine wrote: “There was a welcome appearance from Imogen Ryall who performed a rendition of the jazz standard ‘Cry me A River’. Vocally she brought the jazz element to the table and her duet with saxophonist James Vargas was extremely enjoyable to watch”.