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Polly Gibbons

Polly Gibbons is a growing presence in the UK Jazz scene. She has already been nominated twice as "Best Jazz Vocalist" by JAZZ FM and the BBC. Fully embracing the inspiring expansiveness of American Jazz, Blues, Soul and R&B, her career as a vocalist, composer and live performer is influenced by these genres. But Polly is hesitant to define her music as strictly Jazz; her eclectic repertoire and the ease and style with which she performs it, have led her to appear at a variety of music festivals and venues: from the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London opening for George Benson and Gladys Knight, or for Bozz Scaggs at the famous Montreal Jazz Festival. Equally, her fans might find her performing a weekly residency with her band at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, Ronnie Scott’s in London or at the funky new venue Rudy's down in Nashville. Her music and her voice have a broad appeal to music lovers - and her ongoing touring over the last few years in the USA has garnered her many new fans.

One might ask how a farmer's daughter (one of seven siblings), who grew up in a small market town in Suffolk, England, came to sing in some of the greatest venues in the world? Polly grew up in a family that loved various types of music and although acting was her first love, she first began to experiment with vocals at 13; and the well-known British vocalist, Ian Shaw, helped her secure her first gig in London at 17. Then she was off! She released her first album, My Own Company in 2014, and soon afterward she was contacted by the American producer, George Klabin, President of the established USA label, Resonance Records, a division of the non-profit RISING JAZZ STARS, INC.

It was at Resonance Records Beverly Hills studio where Polly recorded Many Faces of Love, released in 2015. Touring the country from Oklahoma City to Minneapolis to New York City in support of that CD began a new career phase for Polly. She soon returned to the States in the Autumn of 2016 to begin work on her second album for Resonance: Is It Me…? The album was released in April of 2017 and several new touring periods (in the USA, EUROPE and ASIA) began, attracting critical acclaim from many music critics and periodicals; for example, the American music magazine, DOWNBEAT, compared Polly to a female version of the highly acclaimed vocalist, Gregory Porter.

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6
Interview

Polly Gibbons: Jazz or Blues, It's The Feeling

Read "Polly Gibbons: Jazz or Blues, It's The Feeling" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


British singer Polly Gibbons is past the up-and-coming stage. Her strong will, passion and impressive talent continue to propel her down a path where more good things are sure to come. An indication of her prodigious talent is heard on her latest release, and third for Resonance Records, All I Can Do. It's a joyous romp through jazzy and bluesy standards. When she swings and sings jazz, gruff traces of the blues emerge through her rich vibrato. And ...

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Bailey's Bundles

Ten Artists: June 2019

Read "Ten Artists: June 2019" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Polly Gibbons All I Can Do Resonance Records 2019 Polly Gibbons's 2017 Resonance release, Is It Me...? was positively received by All About Jazz and other outlets when it appeared. That recording featured a crack trio augmented with soloists, establishing Gibbons as a sensitive yet muscular interpreter of the American Songbook and beyond. All I Can Do finds Gibbons in larger company and in front of a live audience. If Gibbons betrayed any shyness ...

Album Review

Polly Gibbons: All I Can Do

Read "All I Can Do" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


È sufficiente ascoltare qualche brano dell'inglese Polly Gibbons per lasciarsi prendere dal suo esuberante feeling. Niente a che vedere con le molte vocalist che hanno invaso la scena con una mediocre e plastificata sintesi di pop, jazz e soul. La giovane scoperta dal produttore Ian Shaw è qualcosa di speciale. Il suo timbro è profondo, la tecnica vocale è scintillante e sorretta da slancio e immaginazione musicale: doti che l'avvicinano alle grandi vocalist del jazz. Ma l'identità artistica di Polly ...

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Album Review

Polly Gibbons: Is It Me...?

Read "Is It Me...?" reviewed by Roger Farbey


With half a dozen albums to her name, British vocalist Polly Gibbons has no need to prove her worth but that hasn't inhibited her from pulling out all the stops on her second album for Resonance following on from 2014's My Own Company. Thomas Dolby's “Ability To Swing" proves just that, courtesy of a first class powerhouse of an American horn section (the album was recorded in the States where Gibbons plays gigs with increasing frequency, such is ...

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Album Review

Polly Gibbons: Is It Me...?

Read "Is It Me...?" reviewed by Edward Blanco


British songstress Polly Gibbons made her U.S. debut back in 2015 with the well received and seriously-acclaimed Many Faces of Love (Resonance, 2015), and now presents the highly-anticipated and swinging Is It Me...? . Touching on some R&B, pop-styled songs as well as including music from The Great American Songbook, this is one musical experience that turns out to be bold, brassy and brilliant. A staple of the UK jazz scene since the mid-2000s, the beautiful Ms. Gibbons is armed ...

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Recording

UK's Jazz FM Vocalist Of The Year Nominee Jazz/Blues Singer/Songwriter Polly Gibbons Poised To Take U.S. By Storm With Release Of "Is It Me…?" On Resonance Records

UK's Jazz FM Vocalist Of The Year Nominee Jazz/Blues Singer/Songwriter Polly Gibbons Poised To Take U.S. By Storm With Release Of "Is It Me…?" On Resonance Records

Source: EastWest Media

Following sold-out tours in the U.K. opening for George Benson and Gladys Knight, including two acclaimed performances at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, singer/songwriter Polly Gibbons is set to make a British invasion of her own with the release of her highly-anticipated second album, Is It Me…? on Resonance Records on April 21, 2017. Produced by label owner and founder George Klabin, the 12-track collection fully embraces the inspiring, expansive array of American jazz, soul and blues influences that have ...

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Performance / Tour

Polly Gibbons at Birdland on July 2

Polly Gibbons at Birdland on July 2

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Resonance Records presents Polly Gibbons Many Faces of Love - One Show Only - 6:00pm on July 2nd at Birdland Resonance Records will present Polly Gibbons in her triumphant New York City return on Thursday, July 2, at 6:00pm at Birdland. She will be showcasing her debut release on Resonance Records, Many Faces of Love. Polly Gibbons - Vocals Shelly Berg - Piano Marco Panascia - Bass Tim Horner - Drums Polly Gibbons is ...

"They don't come along very often, but this one is a star." —John Mandel

"There’s a rare sense of joy in her voice, not to mention a depth of blues feeling” - London Evening Standard (Pizza Express Jazz Club Review)

“Polly Gibbons’ melismatic, gospel-fired tribute to Ray Charles was remarkable” – London Evening Standard (Ronnie Scott’s Review)

“A soulful young jazz vocalist destined to be a star!” – Time Out

“A truly exceptional, once in a generation talent, possessing a voice of such sizzling intensity and raw emotion you could fry an egg on it.” Peter Quinn, Jazzwise

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

All I Can Do

Resonance Records
2019

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Is It Me...?

Resonance Records
2017

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Many Faces of Love

Resonance Records
2014

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What's The Real...

Rugged Ram Records
2006

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Videos

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