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June Tabor

June Tabor is probably the finest female traditional British folksinger of the late 20th and early 21st centuries — if not the best British folksinger of her time, period. What links her to Britain's past traditions is the chilling and emotional qualities of her voice. What links her to the British present is her fine taste in material, arrangements, and backing musicians, along with a willingness to try different things and interpret work by contemporary songwriters.

Tabor's first high-profile project was a duet album with Steeleye Span's Maddy Prior in the 1970s (the duo dubbed themselves the Silly Sisters for the occasion). An all-star cast of some of the leading lights of the British folk scene supported the singers, including Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, and Andy Irvine. For her own albums and tours she has worked with outstanding guitarists, most notably Jones and Martin Simpson. She's also trodden into folk-rock waters with Fairport Convention (with whom she's guested on-stage) and Oysterband (with whom she collaborated on a 1990 album).

Her 1994 album Against the Streams found her still at her peak, interpreting both traditional tunes and efforts by modern-day composers, including Elvis Costello and Richard Thompson. Subsequent efforts include Singing the Storm (1996), Aleyn (1997), Quiet Eye (2000), Rosa Mundi (2001), Echo of Hooves (2003), At the Wood's Heart (2005), and Apples (2007). In 2011 Tabor released Ashore, a conceptual seafaring album that included a cover of Elvis Costello's "Shipbuilding" as well as reworkings of two of her more memorable songs, "Finisterre" and "The Grey Funnel Line." Also that year, Tabor re-teamed with Oysterband for Ragged Kingdom. In 2013, Tabor collaborated with saxophonist Iain Ballamy and pianist Huw Warren for the album Quercus on ECM.

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Album Review

Quercus: Nightfall

Read "Nightfall" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


A cinque anni di distanza da Quercus, il primo album (che era stato però registrato nel 2006) del trio tutto inglese formato dalla cantante June Tabor insieme al pianista Huw Warren e al sassofonista Iain Ballamy, arriva ora questo secondo lavoro, Nightfall, in cui il trio ha preso ufficialmente il nome dal titolo del precedente CD. Il progetto è uno di quelli che sembrano nascere frequentemente nell'ambito della label ECM mescolando arditamente stili e generi musicali differenti, molto spesso direttamente ...

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Album Review

Quercus: Nightfall

Read "Nightfall" reviewed by John Kelman


It may have taken seven years for the innovative British trio featuring singer June Tabor, saxophonist Iain Ballamy and pianist Huw Warren to find a label and release their first album together, but they sure landed on their feet. Not only was the trio's 2013 debut, Quercus, released on the renowned ECM imprint; it was also enthusiastically received by critics and fans alike, winning that year's prestigious German record critics' Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Jahrespreis (Album of the Year). And ...

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Extended Analysis

June Tabor / Iain Ballamy / Huw Warren: Quercus

Read "June Tabor / Iain Ballamy / Huw Warren: Quercus" reviewed by John Kelman


Awaiting release for more than seven years, Quercus is not the first time ECM has branched into the realm of traditional British music combined with jazz improvisation. Unlike the rawer and more unfettered freedom of producer Steve Lake's inspired pairing of singer Robin Williamson with improvisers including violist Mat Maneri, bassist Barre Phillips and Swedish traditionalist Ale Möller on recordings like The Iron Stone (2007), however, Quercus is a more refined, elegant and dark live recording that pairs renowned British ...

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Extended Analysis

June Tabor, Huw Warren, Iain Ballamy: Quercus

Read "June Tabor, Huw Warren, Iain Ballamy: Quercus" reviewed by John Eyles


June Tabor has been superb for so long that it is easy to take her for granted as England's finest female traditional folk singer. Despite holding that status for many years, she has never seemed to rest on her laurels. Alongside the traditional folk songs on which she built her reputation, Tabor has a repertoire broad enough to include John Lennon's “In My Life," Lou Reed's “All Tomorrow's Parties," Elvis Costello's “Shipbuilding" and Joy Division's “Love Will Tear Us Apart," ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Nightfall

ECM Records
2017

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Quercus

ECM Records
2013

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Quercus

ECM Records
2013

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