Stars
Anita Wardell (vocals) | Dave McEvoy (piano)
Stars features beautiful re-worked jazz standards and originals, including a dedication to the late, great British jazz singer, Tina May.
The idea for the record originated in late April 2022 when Dave and Anita got together around the piano and talked about what we each wanted to convey with the music.
New Music Coming
During her tour across America in 2023, Anita stopped over in Seattle for a few days to record a handful of jazz standards with jazz pianist Jeremy Siskind. The EP is currently being mixed and will be out in late spring.
Anita in Oz
Anita makes a trip down under to perform at the Adelaide Jazz Festivalm followed by a hop and a skip over to Perth for International Jazz Day, performing at the Ellington Jazz Club with Harry Mitchell (piano), Karl Florisson (bass) and Ben Vanderwal (drums) in her show You Inspire Me.
In conversation
Anita talk to Diana Torti for Jazz In Europe. Talking about herself, her latest projects, and some themes around Women in Jazz Media. Published February 2024.
“I headed to the 606 Club to witness the phenomenal craft of vocalist Anita Wardell. She has been missing from London for the past four years while holding a teaching post in Adelaide, but now she has relinquished it and is is back here. Wardell’s Betty Carter celebration was a joy, and she has the skill and the jazz chops to do it. The room was packed with other singers, all seemingly awe-struck. And to anyone who comes out with the lazy trope that they don’t like scat singing, there is a simple answer: if there is any current singer who can change minds, it is Anita Wardell.”
Sebastian Scotney
Anita live in NYC
Next Event
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth
Event postponed
“You Inspire Me”
For International Jazz Day
Doors 6pm
Show 7pm
The Ellington Jazz Club is proud to present award-winning, British Jazz Vocalist Anita Wardell, for our 2024 International Jazz Day Celebrations.
Anita is noted for her mesmerising and captivating vocal improvisations and vocalese lyrics to instrumental solos. She is a musician who uses the voice as her instrument, displaying precision and agility, mixed with heartfelt emotion.
Anita is the recipient of the BBC Jazz Award for ‘Best of Jazz’ in 2006 and the British Jazz award for ‘Best Vocalist’ in 2013.
Steeped in the bebop and jazz standards tradition, Anita will be paying tribute to the artists that have taught and inspired her on her musical journey thus far. Charlie Parker, Mark Murphy, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, Sarah Vaughan, Cannonball Adderley, Clifford Brown and many more.
Anita Wardell – Vocals
Harry Mitchell – Piano
Karl Florisson – Double Bass
Ben Vanderwal – Drums
“The singer’s mercurial musicality and acute sense of improvisational freedom can at times take the breath away” Peter Quinn