Home » Jazz Musicians » Jane Irving
Jane Irving
Vocalist Jane Irving has spent most of her life surrounded by music. Initially a childhood classical piano student, she discovered jazz in her late teens. The combination of studied learning and a natural feel for jazz, helped Irving begin to understand the potential of the voice as an instrument for pure self expression. Irving was born in Sydney, Australia. She began classical piano studies at the age of 6 which continued to the end of school. “When I was 14 my parents started sending me to jazz camps in the school holidays. That’s when I first heard jazz - it felt really good.” After leaving school, at 18 Jane got her first gig playing piano and singing in the cocktail bar of a Sydney hotel. Her repertoire was a combination of top forty songs and jazz standards. “I don’t know how I got that gig. I just knew that I could play piano well enough to get by and the singing was just something that seemed to work fairly well along side it. A white grand piano with a glass top that people would sit around. It was a funny gig but this is where I got my start.” Jane continued to work as a piano player/singer but when she took a jazz vocal workshop at the Conservatorium in Sydney everything changed. A guitar player she had met there offered her a gig... “I turned up and walked out on this big stage, and there was a guitar player, a bass, drums and just a microphone on a stand waiting for me. No piano. This was my first gig singing with no piano.” Irving continued to work as a pianist/vocalist but was fast becoming much more interested in the voice as an instrument. At this time, Jane began studying with Australia's leading jazz vocalist - Kerrie Biddell. ”Kerrie really helped me hone my sound and taught me so much about the voice and being a singer. She had a deep impact on me personally and as a musician.” Irving formed a band and started singing in and around the Sydney area, and began featuring at some festivals - Thredbo Jazz Festival; Manly Jazz Festival; South Coast Jazz Festival and Wangaratta Jazz Festival. She also played regularly at popular Sydney spots such as: The Basement; Soup Plus; The Sound Lounge; and 505. In 2009 Jane was asked to be the vocal teacher for the Sydney Improvised Music Association’s ‘Young Women In Jazz’ program, which continued for two years. This was a unique course aimed at women interested in pursuing a professional career in jazz and improvised music. At this time Jane was also asked to front ‘The Swinging Blades’, a band of star Sydney musicians. The ‘Blades’ formed a weekly musicians jam where many of Sydney’s best jazz musicians could be heard. In 2011, Jane moved to New York with husband, bassist Kevin Hailey. Together they reside in Brooklyn. Most recently Irving has been playing with Tadataka Unno, Ron Affif, Mark Ferber, Josh Richman and many other local NYC musicians. Jane has played regularly at NYC spots including The 55 Bar, Minton's, Birdland and Mezzrow. Jane is set to release her new album “Don't Quit Now” in March of 2023.
Read moreTags
“Ms. Irving is one badass jazz stylist, the kind that makes audiences say WOW!” - Stephen Mosher, Broadway World.
“Jane Irving's emphasis on originality strikes an eclectic fresh note within a jazz setting.” - Chris Struck for Cabaret Scenes.
“I'm impressed with her ‘feel’ for the tunes – just as people dug Miles Davis because of the way he interpreted his material.” -Don Rader. The ex Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Count Basie US trumpeter.
“Her cheery feel-good music making is as uplifting and mellow as it can get. Her scat crooning is alluring and is bound to stay with you for a long time. She has a knack of getting your juices flowing and on ballads she is like fine wine.” -‘Singer’s Singers’ - Dan Singer, New York City
Primary Instrument
Vocals
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Photos
Jane Irving
Location: New York City
Instrument: Vocals
Born: March, 1971
