Cotton Skies

25.07.11

Cotton Skies is Saunders' astonishingly assured and accomplished debut. Reflecting her passion for Brazilian rhythms and some of the great composers that have inspired her, she uses her voice as a true improvisationalist. Yet it is not only Saunders' masterful voice, but her talent as a songwriter and arranger that sets her above the rest. Six of the ten songs on Cotton Skies are originals. The coolness of her poetic, alluring, compositions and dreamy lyrics are balanced with an outstanding selection of fiery arrangements by composers Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti and Airto Moreira. Saunders' dark, sultry ballads are offset by exuberant, hip swaying grooves. Joining Emily on voice are Byron Wallen and Nick Walters on trumpets, Bruno Heinen on piano and Rhodes, Larry Bartley on bass, Jon Scott on drums and Chris Wells on percussion.

Tracklisting

• Ginga CariocaHermeto Pascoal, arr. Emily Saunders
• Wishing WellEmily Saunders
• DreamEmily Saunders
• DazeEmily Saunders
• XibabaAirto Moreira, arr. Emily Saunders
• DaysEmily Saunders
• O SonhoEgberto Gismonti, wds. Livingston & Evans
• MixingAirto Moreria
• SerendipityEmily Saunders
• ZacharyEmily Saunders

COTTON SKIES

Great quote on Facebook from Cleveland Watkiss - "Emily Saunders! one of our great young singers composers improvisers"

TOUR DATES 2012
Now booking dates for 2012 leading up to a new CD launch in the autumn. Check back for more dates, or join the mailing list via the link below.

CONGRATS TO JON SCOTT

Kairos 4tet MOBO win
Huge congratulations to Cotton Skies drummer Jon Scott on his band's MOBO win.

ALSO

GILLES PETERSON
Tweet from Gilles Peterson on July 13th:
"live in just over 50...james blake/kash killion/dego/jill scott/nick waterhouse/mocky/sbtrkt/pyramids/emily saunders/semtek...fonce mizell.."

NEW WEBSITE
With live footage from Pizza Express Live Jazz Club, Soho

the voice

Once heard never forgotten, the refreshing and unusual sound of Emily Saunders' music opens the ear and the mind. She uses her voice as a true improvisationalist – sensual and engaging, enriched by a distinctive instrumental approach to sound and invention. Her repertoire is both individual and ethereal, creating complex soundscapes of colours drawing her audience into another land. In performance Emily's voice soars to great heights with rapid technical cascades of sound, contrasting with delicate, sensuous tones. Emily Saunders' personal style of sparkling wordless vocals, largely acoustic backing, and romantic melodic songs, positions her, without doubt, as a voice to remember.

the story

Born and bred in London, she was brought up in a family steeped in music – her grandmother was a classical pianist, singer and instinctive improviser; her sister is a contemporary classical composer, and her father a renowned classical pianist, arranger and choral conductor who indulged his love of jazz late at night with records by Oscar, Fats and Bird. It is no wonder then that she naturally took to the piano writing songs from a very young age, and initially trained as a classical musician. Yet her fascination of improvisation led her to specialise in Jazz Voice at Trinity Conservatoire and to embark on a career in improvised music

the influences

Delivered with a sensuality that would give our most favourite Brazilian chanteuses a run for their money, Emily Saunders wraps light breathy vocals around Brazilian rhythms whilst evoking the brilliance of the jazz greats. From a young age a fascination with many musical genres lead to her immensely diverse musical tastes - from Nina Simone, Flora Purim, Betty Carter and Santana to 90's ambient, Messiaen, Reggae, Latin and 70's soul. But it is Saunders love of rhythm and her enthusiasm for the great composers of Brazil such as Hermeto Pascoal, whose obsession with sound and artistic virtuosity inspired her to record Cotton Skies.

Images

 

Hi-res Lo-res

 

Hi-res Lo-res

April 01 2012
Oxford Jazz Festival

Emily Saunders Trio

Marked as one to look out for in 2012 by Jazzwise magazine Emily brings her dark, sultry ballads and exuberant, hip swaying grooves to the Oxford Jazz Festival. 5.30pm at Cafe Coco, Oxford Royal.

Preview from The Guardian

April 11 2012
Way Out West

Emily Saunders Band

Emily performs as part of the Way Out West collective's series of regular Wednesday gigs, with songs from the CD Cotton Skies, and some new material

April 22 2012
Forest Row Jazz Club

Emily Saunders Trio

Marked as one to look out for in 2012 by Jazzwise magazine Emily brings her dark, sultry ballads and exuberant, hip swaying grooves to the Forest Row Jazz Club

May 04 2012
Royal Festival Hall

Emily Saunders Trio

Marked as one to look out for in 2012 by Jazzwise magazine Emily brings her dark, sultry ballads and exuberant, hip swaying grooves to the Royal Festival Hall (Central Hall Bar) for a lunchtime performance.

June 27 2012
Boisdale

Emily Saunders Band

Emily performs as part of the JazzFM series of gigs at the Boisdale Canary Wharf. Being recorded live for broadcast the following week. Tickets available here.

October 11 2012
Spin Jazz Oxford

Emily Saunders Band

The Emily Saunders Band play songs from her first album CD Cotton Skies, and new material from her forthcoming second album

October 24 2012
Pizza Express Jazz

Emily Saunders Band

Emily launches her second album at this prestiguous venue - Pizza Express Dean Street Soho