Born: November 21, 1963 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Jun3 2011 Rob and Zoe have been writing, recording and playing together for eight years and in this time they have honed in on what suits them best. It has become very apparent from audience responses, that what sets them apart is their lean towards the bluesy side of jazz. Zoe’s expressive singing and Rob’s distinct and natural leaning towards blues inflections.
Rob says about the ZOE SCHWARZ BLUE COMMOTION project, “I think there is a big vacancy in the jazz world for the bluesy side of jazz we play, it appeals to a much wider audience, but retains all the jazz qualities that we love. We’ll be playing material by the likes of Ray Charles, Nina Simone, those sultry ‘Billie Holiday ballads’ Zoe is making such a great name for, and an occasional blues by greats such as Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon, and of course one or two of our own”.
Zoë and Rob’s musical partnership has been described as “one of the most engagingly natural partnerships in jazz, Zoë’s unaffected vocal style particularly well suited to the blues, and Rob's flawless guitar skills; their gigs are immediately accessible, enjoyable affairs.” ” Chris Parker, Vortex.
BBC Radio 3 Geoffrey Smith 28th May 2011 ” “Making her name on the UK Jazz scene….. a heart felt performance of Billie Holiday’s ‘Don’t Explain’.”
“The bluesy vocals of Zoë Schwarz have won a significant following.” - The Independent on Sunday, Roger Trapp
BBC Radio 2 Russell Davies 2010 “We were happy to feature Zoe Schwarz for she’s a real talent, as is her guitar-playing partner Rob Koral, Zoe’s sure, strong voice is under-pinned by some really pretty guitar.” Recommended.
“Rob Koral is superb his is a talent of world class proportions.” - Jazz Journal Intl, Bruce Crowther
‘The bluesy vocals of Zoe Schwarz are seriously special’ - Jeremy Miles, Bournemouth Echo 2010
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ZOE SCHWARZ was classically trained and a graduate in the ‘Performing Arts’ from Middlesex University. Despite Zoë’s classical upbringing and studies, it soon became clear that her forte was far more suited to jazz, expressive ballads and blues. It was only three years after her first jazz gig that Zoë made her debut at Ronnie Scott’s playing a week opposite Monty Alexander. She has also enjoyed success at Pizza Express-Dean street, Stables-Wavendon, Vortex, 606, Lighthouse-Poole to name a few. As well as many other theatre and club dates Zoë has had a full programme of festivals stretching from Chichester to Swaledale, Swanage to Lichfield, from Mumbles to Petworth and Bude, to Bury St. Edmunds, to the Isle of Wight.
ROB KORAL comes from a ‘self-taught’, more bluesy background; but subsequently made his name on the British jazz scene, performing and recording with the likes of Malcolm Creese, Robin Aspland, Gareth Williams, Roy Babbington, Lawrence Cottle, Django Bates and Bill Bruford. Rob moved to London early in his career and released several well-received albums, appeared on the Old Grey Whistle test and many BBC radio Jazz sessions. Rob has played at all major jazz venues and festivals and recent solo album ‘Grace Notes’ was featured on Radio 3’s Jazz Line Up.
www.zoeschwarz.info www.robkoral.co.uk
“This eagerly awaited follow up to what was one of my favourite vocal CDs of 2004, Dancing For Miles … one of the most outstanding voices on the current circuit.” by Nick Lea Jazz Views (Devil Or Dove)
“ Zoë Schwarz has a great and very interesting voice: kind of Julie London crossed with June Christy in the lower register but then there is the startling upper register that is completely her own.” by Jack Kenny Jazz Views
“…excellence of phrasing and timing … the covers reflect her strengths … ‘More Than You Know’ and ‘Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues’ are performed with such style and panache that one could almost imagine that she wrote them herself. by Hugh Gregory Jazz Review
“The real meat of this recording is to be found in the nine originals. The two Billie Holiday-inspired tunes ‘Let’s Explain’ and ‘Give Him Up Girl’ both pack powerful emotional punches (who says no one’s writing good lyrics these days) ……” by Peter Quinn Jazzwise ‘Devil or Dove’ April 2005 with Zoë Schwarz
“Zoe Schwarz is a fine singer with a great jazz feel …. a singer with an individual style and a polished performance”. by Don Mather Jazz CD Reviews March 2005 www.musicweb.uk.net/jazz
“…Schwarz has a pleasant voice with a shade of huskiness, and a deft and knowing delivery… she mixes her own songs with a tasteful selection of both standards and more contemporary fare from the likes of Krall and Winstone.” by Kenny Mathieson, Jazzwise
“Heavens, the country is awash with talented and attractive young singers who not only sing standards like old pros but can write their own songs too.” by Peter Bacon, The Birmingham Post
“At times the voice of Zoë Schwarz recalls the laidback coffee-shop-friendly melancholy of Norah Jones. At others, especially on the more up-tempo numbers, it recalls the jazzier pep of Diana Krall (one of whose songs, “A Charmed Life”, is included).” by Chris Parker, Jazz Review
“…for my money she has hit the jackpot with this collection. ….‘A Charmed Life’ ….. imbuing the song with a level of optimism and exuberance that is truly exhilarating…” Nick Lee ��” Jazz Views,
“Several of the original songs, notably ‘You’re Not Alone’, are strikingly good ….Zoë’s voice is powerful and accurate” by Ron Simpson, Jazz Rag
“Schwarz’ 2nd album mainly comprises her own material & is quirky & personal” Roger Thomas ‘rounds up the best of the latest jazz releases’, BBC Music Mag’
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