Ingrid James

INGRID JAMES - JAZZ SINGER (Queensland)

Ingrid James is an award-winning Queensland (AUSTRALIA) jazz singer “whose note-perfect delivery and depth of lyrical expression has elevated her into the elite of Australia’s musical talents”. (Steve Robertson, Portland Observer 2012)

Based in Brisbane, Queensland Australia, Ingrid is a graduate of Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Master of Music Studies, Vocal Pedagogy). She also has a Graduate Diploma in Film and Television with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS, Sydney) and teaches Contemporary Voice (specialising in Jazz). She runs and facilitates workshops and master classes locally and around the world. Ingrid has produced and presented a regular Jazz Singers’ Jam Night in Brisbane since 2001, which is currently held at the Brisbane Jazz Club and is the Festival Director for The Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival (2016 to present).

She sings contemporary jazz, bebop, jazz standards through to bossa novas, sambas, blues, and other jazz modalities as well as originals and original reharmonised arrangements of pop standards from Beatles to Rolling Stones. Ingrid is known for her spontaneity, emotional depth and dynamics.

She is also involved in a joint strings project – Ingrid James & Louise Denson’s WILD SILK STRINGS PROJECT (focussing on original compositions as well as lesser-known standards from the Jazz and Brazilian Songbooks. Their repertoire acknowledges the jazz tradition while reflecting a European aesthetic in mood, melody and harmony with feels including Afro-Cuban, cha-cha-cha, Brazilian bossa nova, swing, jazz waltzes and slow funk. “Colours of your Love” by WILD SILK STRINGS PROJECT was released on 7th September 2018 by MGM's The Planet Company.

Ingrid has collaborated with some international artists over recent years. Two recent albums LOST MY HEART and BLUE CONFLUENCE were recorded at Burbank, Los Angeles with LA based jazz/latin/funk ensemble San Gabriel 7. LOST MY HEART featured 7 time Downbeat winner for “Best Trombonist of the Year” – Bill Watrous while BLUE CONFLUENCE featured saxophonist Eric Marienthal (aka Chick Corea’s Elektric Band, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, etc.,)

Scott Yanow (USA, Author of 11 books including The Jazz Singers, Jazz on Film and Jazz on Record 1917-1976) said “ Ingrid James has a beautiful tone to her voice, a wide range, makes wide interval jumps sound effortless, and has the dual abilities of being able to uplift lyrics and to scat up a storm.”

Her latest collaboration has been with Alexis Tcholakian (France – pianist), based in Paris. They have co-written and recorded an album together in Paris in 2014 - due to be released late- 2015 called TRAJECTOIRE.

Mark Channon, Jazz Radio Host from the USA (Connecticut) describes Ingrid as “a fluid balladeer who appeals to the emotions as she captivates our ears while masterfully painting word pictures…[and] consistently displays impeccable intonation, pinpoint articulation and the ability to navigate unusual intervals and angles with finesse, without ever losing the beauty of her God-given voice.”

Ingrid has performed around Australia at many jazz festivals and abroad at Ronnie Scotts, Club 606, Jazz Pizza Express in London. As well as regularly touring the UK and France. She has been soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra & the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a member of the 20 piece big band called the Brisbane Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

In 2012 she toured with Bill Watrous and SG7. Bill Watrous (7 time Downbeat “Trombonist of the Year” winner) said “If this were the 50’s Jazz era, Ingrid James would be performing alongside other greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She is by far one of the best jazz vocalists I have ever worked with”.

Ingrid has been described as having “passionate vocals which cut like musical light-sabres with each note – yet inject warmth and depth of meaning and pathos that only deep compassion can bring.” Noosa Jazz Festival Ingrid's recorded albums have attracted worldwide acclaim including (for “Essence” CD) “probable for the best ten list…comes as a most challenging and welcome vocal surprise” by Cadence Magazine in New York and ABC Limelight Magazine's review described her album duo album with John Reeves “Circumflex” as “hitting the mark with a mixture of classics, jazz standards and contemporary tunes” and “recalls Betty Carter's sublime bent about notes, while Devil May Care is one of the finest I've heard...”

ALBUMS RECORDED:

*Just Visiting 2001 - * (Best CD Qld Sunnie Awards Winner)

*Lazy Afternoon 2001 – * (Best Jazz CD Qld Sunnie Awards Winner)

*Essence 2005 (Newmarket Music – with Matt Baker & Adrian Cunningham)

*Portrait 2007(Newmarket Music – Ingrid James & Louise Denson) * Q Music Award Winner for Best Original Jazz Song “Time to Be”

*Circumflex 2009 (Newmarket Music – with John Reeves)

*Reunion 2010 (Jazzizit Records – Joint Project with Trudy Kerr)

*Pangaea 2011 (Newmarket Music – with The Global Collective - Joint project with US musicians Paul Armstrong (Trumpet) & Todd Harrison (Drums)

*Trajectoire (due for release 2015 joint project with Alexis Tcholakian, France (piano)

* Colours of your Love” by Wild Silk Strings Project (2018) joint project with Louise Denson (piano)

PERFORMED AND CO-WRITTEN ORIGINAL MATERIAL ON OTHER ALBUMS

*Flame Tree 2010 (Louise DensonLatinProject Bandleader & EP: Louise Denson) *Lost My Heart 2012 (with Bill Watrous & San Gabriel 7, (USA) - Bandleader & EP - Jim Lewis *Blue Confluence 2014(with Eric Marienthal & San Gabriel 7 (USA) - Bandleader & EP Jim Lewis

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Ingrid James is an award-winning Queensland jazz singer “whose note-perfect delivery and depth of lyrical expression has elevated her into the elite of Australia’s musical talents”. (Steve Robertson, Portland Observer 2012) – CD “Lost My Heart” 2012

Bill Watrous (7 time Downbeat “Trombonist of the Year” winner) said “If this were the 50’s Jazz era, Ingrid James would be performing alongside other greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She is by far one of the best jazz vocalists I have ever worked with”. (“Lost My Heart 2012”)

“The creative interplay throughout this album between Ingrid James’ captivating voice and the unique sounds of the San Gabriel 7 is really fresh and exciting. At times she’s out front with her unique vocal style and melodic interpretation. Then, just as easily, she’s able to blen right into the horn section as if she were one of the instruments…” Eric Marienthal (USA) saxophonist/composer (CD – “Blue Confluence”)

Ingrid's recorded albums have attracted worldwide acclaim including (for Essence CD) “probable for the best ten list…comes as a most challenging and welcome vocal surprise” by Cadence Magazine in New York and ABC Limelight Magazine's review described her album Circumflex as “hitting the mark with a mixture of classics, jazz standards and contemporary tunes” and “recalls Betty Carter's sublime bent about notes, while Devil May Care is one of the finest I've heard...” (CD – “Circumflex”) ”Think of a warm, assured style that hankers back to the jazz 'cool' of an Anita O'Day and Chris Connor and other like stylists, think of a voice that can use dynamics in a subtle, delightfully restrained, way, think, lastly, of a singer who, expertly backed by regular accompanist-pianist John Reeves, puts her own unforgettable stamp on everything from Cole Porter to Lennon-McCartney and you'll want to hear more…” Neville Meyers, Jazz Writer/Lecturer in Jazz Styles and Innovation, Queensland Conservatorium (CD – “Circumflex”)

Known for her inimitable way of “weaving melodies, textures and rhythms to express a personal interpretation in songs and the endless possibilities they present” (Valley Jazz Festival – live performance)

Ingrid James has been described by the Sydney Morning Herald as “fearless and gifted-a Jazz singer for whom the songs are there to be teased, flirted with and milked for all their improvisational potential.” (CD – “Essence”)

“Her disciplined delivery is mouthwatering, hitting each world with pristine clarity while accenting each though with a silk, sultry resonance…” Mark Channon, USA Jazz Radio Presenter – WWUH Radio W. Hartford, CT) (CD – “Lost My Heart”)

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