Kerry
Originally from Sheffield, Kerry was educated to 'A' Level in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Coming from a musical family, she gained her first professional experience at an early age.
"Lost in Music" - an album of pop covers - released Oct. 1997
Ground Zero - a Rock/Blues covers and originals band - 1996/98
The Babe Shades - a covers soul/party band - 1996/97
Darwin - an originals dance band - 1996
Session vocals on "Paul B Edwards' 1st CD" - released November 1996
Crissy Lee Big Band - all female jazz big band - 1995
In 1997 Kerry established a Prince's Trust funded business - Lady Blue - providing musical entertainment in varying styles. This includes a solo cabaret vocal act.
During this period Kerry also began studying for a modular BA (Hons) Degree with The Open University. Her study encompassed literature, psychology, history and philosophy. Kerry completed her study in October 2001 gaining a "First-Class" degree classification!
In February 2005 Kerry began studying with the Open University again. This time for a Masters Degree in Literature.
In late 1999 Kerry started working with a highly talented young guitarist called Ben Smith. They formed a duo, "Ben & Kerry" playing semi-acoustic jazz, blues and soul.
Ben is featured on several tracks on Kerry's CD, "...and everything".
However, since 2004 Kerry has been doing more acoustic duo work with her partner in music and life, Russell Watkins (guitar/bass). They write together and appear as the outfit Broken Drum, playing originals and covers.
Brought up with classical, pop, blues and soul music, it wasn't until her late teens/early twenties that Kerry really discovered jazz. In about 2000 Kerry's real obsession with all things jazz, both vocal and instrumental, really kicked in. Since then she has begun to appear at some key jazz venues, including Pizza on the Park, various Pizza Express restaurants and the National Theatre Foyer. Her debut CD "...and everything" was released on 33 Records in February 2002, receiving airplay on Jazz FM, BBC Southern Counties Radio and a very favourable review in JazzReview Magazine.
"...and everything" is available from selected record shops, direct from Kerry's live gigs, or by mail order from www.jazzcds.co.uk, www.amazon.co.uk or the 33 Records web site.
Kerry counts Billy Holiday, Etta James, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin and more recently Claire Martin and Liane Carroll among her influences. Musicians worked with include Alan Barnes, Andy Panayi, Clark Tracey, Robin Aspland, Gareth Williams, Alex Garnett, Julian Siegel, Jeremy Brown, Simon Thorpe, James Pearson, Mick Foster, Simon Wallace, Barry Green, Ian Riley, The Mike Ellis Swing Band, The Mid Herts Jazz Orchestra and The Crissy Lee Big Band.
Kerry has been living in Bedford since 2002 and has become very active on the Bedford music scene.
She is now developing a number of new jazz projects including a new CD of largely original material (her own and that of other singer/song-writers she knows), a contemporary tribute to one of her musical/jazz idols (suitable for jazz clubs and theatres) and a new band blending the disparate influences of Cassandra Wilson and John Coltrane. Watch this space...
