“A very classy debut.”

Dave Gelly - The Observer

“Mellow and stylish”

Clive Davis - Sunday Times

"Unsung heroine of British Jazz - the lucid warmth of her singing is accompanied by her highly accomplished piano playing"

The Jazz Mann

"This first recording could just mark the beginning of much deserved recognition."

Alan Barnes

"Wendy is proof that great musicians are alive and kicking all around the UK…high quality, entertaining music."

Jim Mullen

Presenting Wendy Kirkland: Piano Divas

The idea of a show featuring the work of pianist singers such as Nina Simone, Eliane Elias, Diana Krall, Blossom Dearie came from the meeting of minds of the band members; but who could produce such a performance?
There are few pianists in jazz today that can step up to the mark of singing whilst playing and rather than simply accompanying themselves, can exhibit superb technical and harmonic ability at the piano. Wendy is that pianist singer.

Joined by the superb guitar talents of Pat Sprakes who was asked by Darius Brubeck to join his band on tour in Nottingham; Paul Jefferies who is a founder member of Gypsy Fire and Ben Holder Quartet; Stevie Smith who is a consummate professional drummer who has drummed with Blur on their iconic 90s tours.

“The album was recorded live, with me playing and singing simultaneously – no overdubs.”

Wendy Kirkland

Between them they have performed with jazz luminaries including Jim Mullen, Bobby Shew, Dave O' Higgins, Jean Toussaint, Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, The Matthew Herbert Big Band, Tony Kofi, Nigel Price, Phil Robson.

The album has been played during April 2017 as Album of the Week on www.thejazz.co.uk and promotion by the station is ongoing.
One of the original tracks, Bahia, was selected by BBC Introducing and played on Saturday 15th April 2017.
Tracks from the album were played on Radio Jazz Thing on Thursday 20th April..

Wendy sings and plays tunes from the Great American Songbook plus Latin and groove numbers. Having worked with jazz greats including Alan Barnes, Jim Mullen, Roger Beaujolais and BBC Jazz Award winner Karen Sharp, Wendy is a firmly established UK jazz artist.
CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO 'MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME'
CLICK TO LISTEN TO 'BAHIA'

UPCOMING WENDY KIRKLAND GIGS

28 April Catbrook Village Hall
29 April Black Mountain Jazz, Abergavenny
4 May Witney Jazz
10 May Harry Cooks, Cheltenham
24 May Cellar Bar, The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
18 August Pershore Jazz Festival
22 October Beeston Library
23 October Worksop Library
24 October Southwell Library
25 October West Bridgford Library
28 October Wigan Jazz Club

Further gigs tbc

CONTACT

Wendy Kirkland
+44 (0)7764 587 258
wendy@wendykirkland.com
wendykirkland.com
facebook.com/wendykpiano
Twitter / Instagram @jazzkittenwendy