'Musicality, poise and ingenuity...Saunders is the real deal...a jazz vocalist with a big future.' - John Fordham, The Guardian

'Saunders's debut album, Cotton Skies, moves like a belt of high pressure to give us a subtropical Indian summer, with limpid Brazilian rhythms, breathy vocals and fine melodies.' - The Independant

'Emerging vocal star Saunders has that rare combination of a seductive, silky-smooth voice and an effortless ability to write mesmerising melodic Brazilian-tinged modern jazz.' - Timeout

'Well worth hearing and definitely a find' - Jazzwise - Stephen Graham

'Wishing Well...That is beautiful.' - Mike Chadwick, Jazz FM

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Get the album

'An improvisational freedom that is rare.....a fine debut album' - Jazzwise Magazine - Peter Quinn

"Emily Saunders - Lovely" - Clive Anderson (live on BBC Radio4 'Loose Ends")

"I have to say I'm completely blown away by this album" - Bob Osbourne - SCR

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

COTTON SKIES CD RELEASE
'F-IRE Presents'

Now available on Amazon. Coming soon to iTunes as well.

CD LAUNCH TOUR 2011
August 1st, The Vortex, Dalston

Sept 2nd, Matt & Phreds' Manchester

Sept 6th, The 606 Club, Chelsea

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.."

COMPETITION
European Keep An Eye on jazz award soloist finals nominee 2011

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

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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.