Upcoming Gigs
Fleur Stevenson: vocals Pete Billington: piano Howard King: double bass TBC: drums
£14.59
Brandon Allen, Gareth Williams, Raph Mizraki, Si Potts and Crow Jazz’s own Fleur Stevenson join forces for a very special Christmas celebration!
Bringing together some of the finest musicians on the UK jazz scene, this stellar line-up promises an evening of first-class musicianship, festive favourites and plenty of Christmas cheer. Expect dazzling solos, swinging jazz, infectious grooves and a proper festive knees-up from a band absolutely brimming with class.
£20
Jazz Singer
“Fleur has a great voice and sense of timing, and her ability to scat is quite phenomenal. The song choice is fantastic, and she really knows how to present them.”
London Jazz News
"Fleur Stevenson is a wonderful singer with a great musical ear and natural jazz feel."
Claire Martin OBE
“Stevenson is in possession of a voice which has power - yet she has the control to drop down to a caress in a heart-beat. And she can scat; boy, can she scat!”
Something Else
“Fleur Stevenson is a relaxed jazz vocalist with a bright voice, good phrasing and the ability to swing at any tempo.”
Jazz Journal
“Fleur Stevenson has a soft and pure velvety tone that make her performances swing effortlessly.”
Jazz Views
“The honey-toned voice is a delight, excellent diction, feelingly sung.”
Bebop Spoken Here
Latest album
Fleur Stevenson and Pete Billington: For All We Know
Release date: 28th October
Cat No: PB1002
Launch event: Launch Event: The Pheasantry (London) 26th October, 2022
AWARDS
'For All We Know' is included in the prestigious Jazz Views Best Albums of the Year Award, and also featured as one of Jazz Fuel's Best 30 Jazz Releases of 2022.
LINER NOTES
The intimacy of the duo often produces music of exquisite beauty, and reveals a level of empathy between the musicians that can border on the incomprehensible. How can two people be so in tune with each other and the music, and react so intuitively in a music that is never played the same way twice? It is also a very unforgiving setting with no margin for error or hesitancy as every note, nuance and gesture is placed under the closest scrutiny with nowhere to hide.
With scant regard for the above and any inherent pitfalls in such a venture, Fleur Stevenson and Pete Billington present a set that is utterly spellbinding.
There is a fearlessness in the performances heard here that defy comparison with other versions of their chosen repertoire as the two protagonists seek to make their own personal mark on the music.
This, it should be noted, is done with great aplomb, as we are invited to listen to the delightful conversations between Fleur and Pete in their exploration of some classic songs.
Fleur imbues each song with a poignancy that enhances the lyric, whether it be a touch of melancholy, innocence, or resignation, delivering a thoughtful, fresh interpretation of the repertoire. The music is enhanced at every turn by Pete Billington's superb arrangements and multi-instrumentalism, which brings with it a splendid variety for the duo to explore whether Pete is heard on piano, guitar, double bass or even viola.
Listening to the music produced by these two wonderful musicians once again reminds us of the art of the duo, and how powerful and emotive the songs can be when handled as sensitively as they are on this album.
Liner notes: Nick Lea
ALBUM LAUNCH:
Wednesday 25th October, at The Pheasantry, Pizza Express Live, Chelsea.
Tickets (£15:) www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/fleur-stevenson-pete-billington-from-ella-to-oscar