Post Description

Clare Teal (1973, Kildwick, Yorkshire) is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer.

Teal was brought up in the Kildwick area of Yorkshire. She developed an interest in jazz from an early age, through her father's collection of 78rpm records, becoming "obsessed" with big band singers like Ella Fitzgerald and big bands like Joe Loss. She took music lessons (first on the electronic organ, then more formally on clarinet), before going to study music at Wolverhampton University.
While at university, Teal found herself without a clarinet for an unexpected examination. Deciding to sing instead, she not only got her "best grades ever", but discovered that she loved singing in public. After graduation, she started a career in advertising, singing in her spare time with various amateur and semi-professional bands.

Teal's break came when she was asked to stand in for Stacey Kent at a weekend festival in Llandrindod Wells. This led (after some determined self-promotion, in which she drew upon her advertising skills) to a three-album contract with the jazz-specialist label Candid Records. Her popularity soared, with appearances on radio and television bringing her to the attention of a wider public. This eventually led to her being signed by Sony in what was the biggest recording deal by any British jazz singer.

In live performances, Teal performs with a band led by pianist/music director Grant Windsor. While the majority of her recordings are standards, all her albums feature original songs or contemporary covers including post-swing material, most notably a cover of The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreaming". This track attracted the attention of BBC Radio presenter Michael Parkinson, garnering significant publicity during her period with Candid Records.

Her 2004 album Don't Talk reached number one in the UK Jazz Chart (on Sony Records) and number twenty in the mainstream UK Albums Chart. In 2005 she won the award of British jazz vocalist of the year, and in 2006 the award of BBC jazz vocalist of the year.

Since 2005 Teal has been the presenter of the BBC Radio 2 show, Big Band Special, on a Monday night and regularly appears as a presenter on Friday Night is Music Night. Since 2 August 2009, she has also been presenting Sunday Night at 10, after former host Malcolm Laycock's decision to leave Radio 2.

In July 2013, Teal released her album "And So It Goes" featuring the song "Another Language" from Tim Rice's new musical From Here to Eternity.

On 11 August 2015 Teal was master-of-ceremonies for the BBC Promenade Concert, The Story of Swing.

Discography:
1995: Nice Work
2000: Messin with Fire
2001: That's the Way It Is (Candid)
2002: Orsino's Songs (Candid)
2003: The Road Less Travelled (Candid)
2004: Don't Talk (Sony) (UK #20)
2007: Paradisi Carousel (Sony)
2008: Get Happy (W14)
2009: Clare Teal – Live at the Ebenezer Chapel (Ebenezer Records)
2011: Hey Ho (MUD Records) (UK chart peak: #103)
2013: "And So It Goes" (MUD Records)
2013: Jing, Jing-A-Ling (MUD Records)
2014: In Good Company (MUD Records), credited to Clare Teal & Grant Windsor
2015: At Your Request (MUD Records)

Tracks:
01 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight.mp3
02 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - I Get Along Without You Very Well.mp3
03 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart.mp3
04 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - A Kiss To Build A Dream On.mp3
05 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - Lover Man.mp3
06 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - Come Together.mp3
07 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - The Nearness Of You.mp3
08 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - Don't Go To Strangers.mp3
09 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - I Got You (I Feel Good).mp3
10 - Clare Teal & Grant Windsor; Pee Wee Ellis - My Neighbourhood.mp3