Performer, Educator, Jazz Festival and Jazz Club Director / Co-Founder
One of the UK’s most distinctive jazz vocalists, Fleur Stevenson captivates audiences with her honeyed tone, charismatic stage presence, and effortless phrasing. With warmth and subtlety, she brings each lyric to life, weaving stories with every note.
Fleur’s impeccable sense of timing, space, and improvisation pays homage to jazz greats like Shirley Horn and Anita O’Day, while her fresh, stylish interpretations of classic standards - and her tender, heartfelt delivery of romantic ballads - mark her out as a unique voice on the modern jazz scene. A must-hear for lovers of first-class, straight-ahead vocal jazz.
Fleur is a respected figure on the UK jazz scene, regularly collaborating with some of the country’s top musicians, including Gareth Williams, Art Themen, Pete Billington, Dave Newton, Denny Ilett, Brandon Allen, Steve Brown, Sebastiaan de Krom, and Clark Tracey, to name just a few. She performs at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the 606 Club, and the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho.
Fleur's latest album (2022) with multi-instrumentalist Pete Billington called 'For All We Know' received much critical acclaim and 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.
After a well received EP, Fleur launched her debut album at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho in July 2019. The album entitled 'Follow Me' features arrangements of well known standards, as well as jazz arrangements of some lesser known vintage pop songs. Highlights include a samba arrangement of King Crimson’s ‘I Talk to the Wind’ and a tender jazz ballad treatment of the Presley classic ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.
'Follow Me' received many top reviews:
"There is attention to detail in every track and very clear nods to the composers, yet each number is also imbued with originality… This album is class.” Something Else
“50 minutes of charming vocal jazz.” Roger Farbey, All About Jazz
"This is an absolutely delightful album from Fleur Stevenson... and will appeal to all who appreciate top drawer vocal jazz.” Jazz Views
''The honey-toned voice is a delight, excellent diction, feelingly sung, and the trio perform really well, with lots of space for piano solos.'' Bebop Spoken Here
Educator
Fleur is passionate about teaching. Since 2018, she has been a vocal tutor at Headington Rye Oxford, one of the UK’s leading independent schools. In addition to her school work, she teaches freelance jazz students and is a regular tutor at the Henley Jazz Workshops where she inspires and supports aspiring jazz vocalists of all levels.
In 2013, Fleur founded Reading’s first-ever Jazz Singers’ Night - a monthly event offering a welcoming, supportive space for vocalists of all levels to perform with a live jazz trio. Held at The Retreat pub in Reading on the fourth Wednesday of every month, the night continues to thrive as a vibrant hub for local talent and jazz lovers alike. Everyone is welcome. More info
Wallingford Winter Blues and Jazz - festival
In 2024, Fleur co-founded Wallingford Winter Blues and Jazz, an annual music festival held each February in Wallingford. Supported by local sponsors and public funding, the festival aims to lift the spirits of the town and boost local businesses during the cold, dark winter months. This inclusive event takes place across a variety of venues - from pubs and churches to care homes and family centres. Featuring over 30 live music acts and workshops, with around 80% of events free to attend, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy. More info
Crowmarsh Jazz - pop-up jazz club
In 2020 Fleur and fellow musician Maff Potts founded Crowmarsh Jazz - a pop-up jazz club in Crowmarsh Village Hall hosting quality live jazz roughly every 6 weeks. After the pandemic, Fleur and Maff wanted to form a club to support musicians who had endured such a tough time during lockdown, and were awarded an Arts Council grant to kick start the club in 2021. For more details and upcoming shows, see the club website: https://crowmarshjazz.co.uk/
Background
Fleur was raised immersed in classical and ecclesiastical music. Encouraged from an early age, she began singing in church choirs and playing cornet in local brass bands. Her musical talent earned her a scholarship to Pangbourne College, and she was awarded a place at Wells Cathedral School, where she studied classical voice and trumpet.
During her school years, Fleur performed as a classical singer and chorister under the guidance of renowned composers and conductors such as Ralph Allwood (Eton Choral Course), David Fanshawe, Malcolm Archer, Nigel Perrin, and Karl Jenkins. These invaluable experiences provided her with a strong musical foundation that would later shape her career in jazz.
After finishing school, Fleur was invited to fill in as a soloist at a rehearsal with a local jazz group and was instantly captivated by the freedom and expression of jazz singing. Inspired, she formed her own band and began performing at local clubs and bars, quickly building an impressive following.
Fleur earned her Associate Trinity College London (ATCL) diploma in jazz singing performance with distinction. In 2008, she began studying with Claire Martin, often hailed as the First Lady of British Jazz - a collaboration that continues to this day. Fleur has also trained with world-renowned jazz vocalist Anita Wardell, X Factor expert coach Verona Chard, Paris jazz club resident Laura Littardi, and Ronnie Scott’s resident Renato D'Aiello.
Now a familiar face on the London jazz scene, Fleur regularly collaborates with some of the UK’s top musicians, including Art Themen, Gareth Williams, Pete Billington, and Brandon Allen to name a few. She has performed at many prestigious venues across the country, such as the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the 606 Club, and the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho. Fleur also enjoys regular residencies at local venues like the Cornerstone Theatre in Didcot and appearances at festivals including Bunkfest.