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Zoe Schwarz

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.”

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3
Album Review

Zoe Schwarz: The Blues and I Should have a Party

Read "The Blues and I Should have a Party" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


That most durable and indivisible of popular music genres: the blues. Traditionally of an eight-or twelve-bar architecture, if not something more primordial from the pre-Great Depression shellac of Mamie Smith, Tommy Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Charlie Patton. After years of sepia-toned, nostalgic reportage regarding the Ur-nature of this folk art, most of the cobwebs of legend and myth have since been brushed away, revealing that the “blues" became the “blues" at the same time they became a commodity being ...

2
Album Review

Zoe Schwarz: Slow Burn

Read "Slow Burn" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


British singer Zoe Schwarz is a blues singer in the same way that the late Gene Harris was a blues pianist. Harris often referred to himself as a “blues player with jazz chops." Even his jazziest performances are steeped in the vernacular. For an example, see his famous performance from Ray Brown's Bam Bam Bam (Concord, 1988). Schwarz can belt the blues out with the best of them, but she is also a more than competent jazz singer, one who ...

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Bailey's Bundles

The London Blues of Zoë Schwarz

Read "The London Blues of Zoë Schwarz" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


The American music genres blues and jazz are the subatomic particles of every note played since their commission to media in the early part of the last century. While one did not beget the other, were this a Venn diagram, there would exist an overlapping of blues and jazz in that place behind the roadhouse on an unfiltered whiskey Friday night - all urgent zippers and hiked skirts against the fence. It is the blues that gives ...

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“Schwarz has a gritty and interesting approach to her music. The jazzier you are the more you will warm to this and Schwarz is certainly a singer to look out for as she tours the country.” by Bruce Crowther, JAZZ JOURNAL Intl

“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

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Chameleon

33 Records
2020

buy

Slow Burn

33 Jazz
2013

buy

Give Me The Key To Your Heart

From: Chameleon
By Zoe Schwarz

Detour Ahead

From: Slow Burn
By Zoe Schwarz

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