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JAZZWISE MAGAZINE ISSUE 143 JULY 2010

NEWS ITEM by Jon Newey

Zoe Schwarz Festival Fever

Singer Zoe Schwarz and guitarist Rob Koral hit the jazz festival circuit this summer with duo, trio, quartet and sextet performances in support o their recent album Celebration released on the 33 record label. Schwarz, who graduated in classical and performing arts from Middlesex university, was encouraged in the early stages of her jazz career by Keith Tippet and Julie Tippets and has since appeared at most major jazz clubs in the UK with Koral.  Dates include Jazz At the Winchester, Bournemouth (1st July),Christchurch Festival, Dorset,  Lyme Regis, Marlborough, Swanage, and Shaldon Devon.’

 

BBC RADIO 2 THE RUSSELL DAVIES SHOW 9-10PM

25th April 2010 Broadcast

‘Cry Me A River’ Track 1 from CELEBRATION (33JAZZ201)

 

BBC Radio 2 Sunday 21:00 – 22:00 On line, On digital

Russell Davies Sun 25 Apr 201

RECOMMENDATIONS:     We were happy to feature Zoe Schwarz’s new CD “Celebration” – even with the ubiquitous “ Cry Me A River” on display – for Zoe’s a real talent, as is her guitar-playing partner Rob Koral and on this 16-track album, Zoe’s sure, strong voice is under-pinned by some really pretty guitar. Good choice of material, some nice, un-hackneyed songs (‘Don’t Explain’; ‘Baby Baby All The Time’) amidst the familiar fare (‘My Funny Valentine’, ‘The Man I Love’). There are 2 originals by Zoe and Rob, too. Fine recording, 56-odd minutes of music. It’s on 33jazz201..

 

LIVE REVIEW - by Tony  Hayward   April 2010
BLUESY SMOOCHINESS AT THE ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE    

     ‘Last Friday, a near capacity cabaret style audience at The Ilminster Arts Centre were treated to a superb mix of blues, ballads and standards from the “Great American Songbook” performed by singer Zoe Schwarz and guitarist Rob Koral. They were ably supported by bassist Kevin Sanders and a lively but sympathetically restrained drummer, Quinnie Lawrence. All agreed that this was a top quality performance, reminiscent of the classic albums by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, although Zoe’s vocal timbre has a much smoother sound than Ella’s.
     Their programme opened with the up-tempo Mose Allison song, “Stop the World”, which has lyrics, typical of Allison, chock full of words, which tested Zoe’s diction to the limit.  With this she showed from the start how totally at ease she was, whilst Rob demonstrated his mastery of his instrument with silky smooth runs and fluent complex chord progressions.  They continued with many well-known jazz standards, and two originals of their own, “The Waitress”, and a funky “Blues for Frankie and Johnny”, which added their own quality stamp to the well chosen mix of  material.
     The evening finished with “St Louis Woman Blues”, Ma Rainey’s variation on  the W.C. Handy original “St Louis Blues”,  which slid seemlessly into “Route 66”. A rousing finale which ensured they will be back next year.’
 

 

LIVE REVIEW - by Chris Parker  April 2010

Rob Koral & Zoë Schwarz at THE VORTEX JAZZ CLUB, LONDON
     ‘On Rob Koral and Zoë Schwarz's latest album, Celebration
(see CD Reviews), Schwarz reveals that playing duo gigs was 'how I learnt
my trade', calling them 'a very intimate setting that Rob and I thrive
on'. From the very beginning of this performance, a lively rendering of
the Evans/Ricardel novelty song 'Frim-Fram Sauce' (made famous by Nat King
Cole and Slim Gaillard, among others), such intimacy lay at the heart of
the duo's considerable appeal. With Koral providing discreet, supple but
subtly powerful guitar accompaniment, Schwarz injected genuine wit into
the delivery of such nonsense orders as 'aussen fay' and 'chafafa', and in
the following two songs, Bobby Troup's 'Baby, Baby, All the Time' and
Rand/Grant's 'Let There be Love' (both also associated with Cole), she
emulated the great singer/pianist in her delivery's combination of relaxed
warmth and controlled emotion. Thereafter, throughout a wide-ranging
selection of songs embracing everything from Jobim sambas and familiar
standards (Cole Porter's 'What is This Thing Called Love', the Gershwins'
'The Man I Love') to the odd blues (Ma Rainey's 'See See Rider', Howlin'
Wolf's 'Sitting on Top of the World') and affecting original, the duo
(like a number of other musical/marriage partnerships – Mike and
Kate Westbrook, Keith and Julie Tippett/s spring immediately to mind)
Koral and Schwarz imbued everything they performed with an easy
informality and graceful assurance, thoroughly vindicating Schwarz's
avowed aim: 'to use the [duo] space to be creative, expressive, dynamic,
intricate and I hope stylish'.’



 

TIME OUT SAYS

20th April 2010

        ‘Vocal-led jazz from this polished duo of singer Schwarz and guitarist Koral who combine in classy style on charming originals and faithful readings of standards. Evoking the effortless rapport of Ella as backed by Joe Pass, this duo really stand out from the vocal-jazz crowd with their great taste and timing.’

 

BURY ST. EDMONDS MUSIC FESTIVAL – NICK WELLS

        The moment I heard Zoe’s bluesy vocals I knew I had to bring her and her band to the Festival. Her mix of jazz standards and original compositions has been getting great reviews and I’m really looking forward to this set.

 

INTERVIEW WITH SEBASTIAN SCOTNEY for

londonjazz.blogspot.com &

Featured Artist on www.jazzcds.co.uk February 2010

CD release - Celebration by Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral
       
Vocalist Zoe Schwarz and guitarist Rob Koral, whose new duo album Celebration is released on 33 Records are a couple, and a duo. But they have taken very different journeys.
       As a sixteen year-old, self-taught, left-handed beginner guitarist, Rob Koral was first in thrall to Eric Clapton. Then to Jan Akkerman. He then moved from Bournemouth onto the London music scene as a “whirlwind of energy.” Koral remembers the life he had in the early eighties, He was rushing around town from TV recording to gig to studio with his band Sketch. Or stretching his jazz chops alongside the likes of bassists Laurence Cottle and Roy Babbington and pianists Robin Aspland and Pete Saberton. And when he talks about those times, he can savour the simple differences between then now and then: “The scene was open, you could just pick up the phone and talk to a TV producer. And there weren’t yellow lines. You could always park outside the studios.”
        When Koral describes his more recent influences, the names of the guitarists which come up are very different from his original inspirations: he mentions Joe Pass, Jim Mullen, Phil Robson and Martin Taylor. What Koral strives for now, he explains on his website, is "sweet touch", combined with the "intricacies of jazz harmonies". He aims to create “a fluid sound without physical tension in the execution,”
        No physical tension? But surely the guitar gives you lop-sided posture? “I’m not aware of that,” says Koral. And I noticed him recoil at the mere thought of the kind of busy guitarists who want to be the fastest in the world, attacking and driving the beat. There is a distinct calm about Koral’s playing on Celebration which clearly comes from within. And playing in the duo setting with Zoe Schwarz gives him the space for his individual voice to come through. “I can breathe.”
        Schwarz’s journey through life could not have been more different. From an army family, she was always on the move as a youngster She went to nine different schools before the age of seven, when she was sent away to boarding school. “I sang all the time. I was obsessive. Classical, choral, contemporary.” Her summers as a teenager were spent at Dartington. As a high soprano with perfect pitch she was a natural for pieces by Maxwell Davies and Birtwistle. She was regularly called on to perform compositions by the students. She interrupted our conversation to do a nice impression of the screechy, anguished, eighties soprano parts.
        Life then brought Schwarz both the tensions and the rewards of a succession of jobs in finance, where she rose through the ranks, and was involved in managing the risk exposures of an investment bank. But things then took a different turn, and she found herself living back with her parents and her two children in Dorchester. So, after a gap of fifteen years, in 2001, she returned to Dartington.
        She met Keith Tippett who still remembered her from earlier summer schools. She had brought along ballads by Billie Holiday to sing. Schwarz remembers his reaction to her singing. He was adamant: “You’ve got to stick at this.”
        Those words of encouragement from Keith Tippett were to resonate with Schwarz. She tracked down Rob Koral, who lived locally, and went to him to work on songs. His first response to her singing was also telling. He booked her for a gig. That Saturday. Their memories of that gig are different: “I only knew four songs,” says Schwarz. “She knew a dozen. She was fine.” says Koral.
        Schwarz’s voice has changed, moved lower since her early singing. She has an appealing no-nonsense approach to describing the change: “When I sing I feel a real connection with my back. And, I can tell you, with each child, it’s just got better!”
        Literally hundreds of gigs later, Koral and Schwarz are releasing their first album as a duo. It was recorded by Mike Hallet, who has worked on previous albums for them and knows their sound. “We just went in to his studio and literally did performances", says Koral.
        “Celebration” is also a thank you and a homage to Billie Holiday. The CD celebrates spontaneity, and beautiful sound. It has that organic feel of an album derived from the experience, the joy and the spontaneity of live performance.

Celebration was released on January 11th and is available from www.jazzcds.co.uk


BBC Radio 2 “Best Of Jazz” – Humphrey Lyttelton

Monday 10th March 2008

Track 2. From the Album STEP UP 33JAZZ171

‘I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl’ written by Nina Simone

“A powerful rendition  ..  a glorious album” – Humphrey Lyttelton

 

BBC Radio Scotland  

Tuesday 8th Jan and Sunday 13th January 2008.

The Great Escape - Eilidh Macleod talks to people who have made a change.  

Producer Gillian Russell

Half hour interview about the change from Top city career to jazz vocalist. Two tracks broadcast:

THE WAITRESS – THE BADDEST BLUES BAND (EVER!) – Audio-B

YOURE NOT ALONE – DUO with Rob Koral – 33Records

 

WINDSOR ARTS CENTRE

3RD march 2008 Blog by Graham Steel

Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral performed some sultry jazz & blues with there quartet co-inciding with the eclipse of the moon! A great night full of standards and original material, featuring a soulful voice and sublime guitar playing.

 

THE VORTEX JAZZ CLUB.  LONDON  

Wednesday 31st JANUARY 2007. Gig review by Chris Parker

“Breezy informality was the keynote struck by singer Zoe Schwarz and partner, guitarist Rob Koral, in their quartet gig on which they were joined by bassist Malcolm Creese and drummer Mark Fletcher.

Ellington numbers (I’m just a Lucky So and So’), songs connected with Billie Holiday (‘Until the Real Thing Comes Along’) and the odd bluesy original from their repertoire, but the success of their act depends more on their easy rapport and unassuming stage presence than on the quality of their material.

Schwarz has an engaging, unaffected vocal style particularly well suited to the blues, and Koral is a near but cogent guitarist, so their partnership is a natural one, and their gigs, if this one’s a fair example, are immediately accessible, enjoyable affairs.”

 

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY.  

18th August 2007. 

Jazz & Blues - THE FIVE BEST GIGS  by Roger Trapp

"The bluesy vocals of Zoe Schwarz have won a significant following in the West Country.  Her combination with the guitarist Rob Koral helps place her apart from many other female vocalists.  A new CD is on the way. Café Rouge, Bournemouth.”

 

THE PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB. Dean Street. Soho. London. W1

MUSIC PROGRAMME    Thurs 20th October 2005 20 – £15
”Vocalist/songwriter Zoë Schwarz and guitarist/composer Rob Koral have forged one of the most engagingly natural partnerships in jazz – Zoë’s smoky tone and soaring quality in perfect harmony with Rob’s melodious spontaneity. Their recent CD ‘Devil or Dove’ received rave reviews and extensive airplay for its inspired originals and ingenious variations on standards. Featuring Hilary Cameron (piano), Nick Kacal (bass) and Mark Fletcher (drums).”

 

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY.  

16th October 2005. 

GOING OUT - Jazz & Blues - THE FIVE BEST GIGS  by Roger Trapp

“ The singer-songwriter Zoë Schwarz’s world-weary voice brings an endearing quality to a repertoire made up largely of compositions by herself and her longstanding guitarist, Rob Koral.  With support from their regular band, they produce a gently swinging sound that trends more towards the blues than the soul and pop favoured by most of Schwarz’s peers. Pizza Express jazz club, London, Thurs

 

THE WESSEX MUSE MAGAZINE.     ISSUE 03.     OCTOBER 2005. 

A New Album And A Week At Ronnie Scott’s     
 “Meeting up with Zoë Schwarz and Rob Koral is as much an enjoyable experience as listening to their music.  Both are surprisingly unpretentious, especially considering their obvious talent and the fact they are currently riding a wave of increased interest in their work.  Nevertheless, once they start talking about their music the passion, enthusiasm and obvious love of melodic jazz takes over.  After three years of working together and honing their craft their confidence and determination to reach as many people as possible is unbridled.

continued………………”  editorial by Roger Kaye

 

LIVE REVIEW - Swindon Jazz Club 

The Zoe Schwarz Quartet featuring Rob Koral   05/05/05   8.30pm
Venue: The King's, SWINDON, WILTSHIRE Reviewed by: -  Keith Brain

The Swindon Jazz Society presentation at the Kings this month ended a recent run dominated by female performers.
Those who may have heard Zoë Schwarz on local radio airwaves with her guitarist Rob Koral prior to this Swindon debut gig will be aware of a quality act.
However, you can't beat a live performance before an audience, and the Kings upstairs music room, by a fortunate quirk, can provide a rewarding experience when listening to artists who know about sound balance and acoustics.  And Zoe Schwarz has a very good microphone technique which projects a strong, unstrained voice with a wonderful husky edge.  Her programme included entertaining and varied originals, often with a theme of un preaching social observation - I'm Alright Jack, Give Him Up Girl, and The Waitress were typical titles.

The standards were well represented, too, along with Diana Krall material: A Charmed, Charmed Life and a knockout Cry Me A River were especially memorable.
Rob Koral, plus Jerome Davis on double bass and the much travelled Mark Fletcher on drums (recently associated with Chuchu Valdez in Cuba), provided a super sound background tapestry to the evening.
Zoe Schwarz soon appears opposite the renowned pianist Monty Alexander at Ronnie Scott’s Club. Let's hope we can afford her in this local setting again.

 

LIVE REVIEW  - Chichester Jazz Club

By Barry Boyce

Zoë Schwarz in April followed Zoë Rahman in March. For me, the man who books the bands for CJC, there was a sharp contrast that has nothing to do with the artists’ musical or presentational talents.

As my devoted readership will recall, her visit to CJC was the sixth time I’d heard Zoë Rahman in live performance. In contrast, I booked Zoë Schwarz after listening many times to her second CD, Dancing For Miles, and then eventually going to hear her in a duo at the Jazz Café Fleur in Poole. My visit had convinced me of her voice and her ability to handle a small, noisy audience. Clearly also she and Rob Koral, guitarist and composer, had a close musical understanding in their well balanced programme, with many classic jazz standards and only a few of their own compositions – even though their own music is very important to them both. Any slight doubts about Zoë were removed by her excellent third album, Devil and Dove, in March 2005, followed by the news that she had been booked to play a week at Ronnie Scott’s in August 2005.

Even so, I was surprised at just how good the whole band was at CJC. Zoë’s singing was remarkable, with an attractive, smoky tone in the lower register and a strong, soaring quality, effortlessly achieved apparently, in the upper range. Her stage presence, attributed to her 9-year old daughter’s inspiration, also impressed. The energy of her live performance matches that of ‘the other Zoë’ and makes me inclined to believe that there really is something in a name (if you can be bothered, see the review of the Zoë Rahman gig). Rob Koral lived up to his excellent reputation – ‘worth his weight in gold’ according to one review. He moving easily between unobtrusive support and totally convincing solos; his solo version of Shadow of Your Smile led the audience to call for an encore, a beautiful Moon River. On piano was Hilary Cameron who started well, if somewhat tentatively at times, and was absolutely outstanding in the second half; on record she also sings and plays flute and it would add a special quality to the band if she did so in live performance. And finally, young Nick Kacal on bass, who played with great zest and drive all evening and contributed several excellent solos.

Among the numbers that particularly appealed to me were: All Right, OK, You Win; Tom Waits’s Temptation; Ellington’s Lucky So and So, and Jobim’s No More Blues. Schwarz-Koral originals included the Billie Holiday-inspired Let’s Explain and Give Him Up Girl; The Waitress; and I’m Alright Jack. It was on some of the more up-tempo numbers that I noticed a certain lack of clarity in Zoë’s diction. Not a problem in the standards - when I knew most of the words anyway - this sometimes spoilt my enjoyment of what are often clever and subtle lyrics in the originals.

In summary, Zoe is outstanding, particularly considering her relatively limited experience in jazz. I will be fascinated to discover quite how far her career will take her. She certainly meets my standard ’20-mile test’ for bands – I’d travel at least that distance to hear her again! Indeed I shall try to get to Ronnie Scott’s during her week in August. This will be a test - the audiences at Ronnie’s re not famously polite and attentive as far as the ‘support bands’ are concerned – but one I feel sure she and the band will pass.

 

sherbornejazz.org.uk. 

PR: GIG for 23rd April 2005    . 

by Iain Houston, Sherborne Jazz Club,

Zoe Schwarz is a powerful singer who now shows us the breadth and depth of her passion for music as she sings songs that she has written herself and clearly convey an intense and personally felt emotional energy.

Many of her new songs come from her latest CD Devil or Dove which has led to considerable national acclaim not to mention a week at Ronnie Scott’s Club - a fitting platform for someone who has put so much into her craft as those of us who have heard her perform locally know well.

 

Zoe's long-time musical collaborator, guitarist Rob Koral complements Zoe's new writing and classically-trained voice with his own extensive experience of the jazz repertoire. He says: Because Zoe and I come from different musical backgrounds, I feel that a very interesting ingredient is thrown into the melting pot. We all know, love and need the great standard repertoire, but I also think that it is important to create new music."

 

"Performing jazz is about having a conversation" explains Zoe. "The spontaneity is tantalizing; creativity personified. I adore performing and recording, and love the pressure of wanting the sound to be perfect, the discipline required for the production. But to top it all I am thrilled by the challenge of writing songs - what a privilege to have an open forum to be able to express opinions and emotions!"

 

www.mumboduck.com

PR: Saturday 11th June 2005  by Tom Toomey

Come to the Party at the Sherborne Castle!  You can luxuriate in the mellow, sophisticated bluesy sounds of the Rob Koral, Zoe Schwarz Jazz Quintet. There’s a synergy between Zoe’s sultry voice and the warmth of Rob’s guitar and when you listen to their music you’re experiencing something unique – a conversation between singer and musician that can never be repeated.

 

THE DAILY MAIL. Thursday, March 3rd, 2005

Femail Magazine.  by Rachel Halliwell

Double page center spread. “It’s the dream of countless women – to give up their stressful, demanding jobs for a quieter way of life.  Meet three high flyers who did just that… with surprising results!

    Zoë says: “Moving to the country was meant to be the perfect antidote to 15 years of stress.  I had gone to work in the City as a temp to pay off my student debts after gaining a music degree at Middlesex University………………………………

 

DORSET MAGAZINE April 2005                                          

 by Bridget Swann

“….. a collaboration that creates an electrifying creative synthesis of two outstanding musicians. Devil or Dove possesses a sublime emotional range and intensity ….”

 

DORSET ECHO 15th March 2005                                           

FACE TO FACE.  BY Ruth Meech

         “ Not many people have the nerve to bin a top-dollar corporate career in order to be a mum and follow their dreams of being a jazz singer.  But Zoë Schwarz did just that – and now is looking forward to the release of her second CD and a week at Ronnie Scott’s!………………………” (full page article)

 

JAZZ COVENTRY PRESENTS.  fri 19 nov

Zoe Schwarz Quintet

“Deft, witty original compositions combined with a clever choice of standards and an assured technique marks out singer Zoe Schwarz as one to watch.”

 

THE DORSET ECHO.  Tues 17th February 2004. 

Article with details taken from the Express.

 

THE DAILY EXPRESS.  Friday 6th February 2004. 

by Julie Welch

Double page spread ‘Ex bank executive reveals why she gave up her highly paid job to fulfill her dream of becoming a jazz singer.

 

THE STAGE.  January 15th 2004.  Piece on ‘new comer’.

LIVE WIRE – June GIG GUIDE 2003 Ian Peterson,

“The Green Room have another great programme this month…………………………..

…………….………..…. At the other end of the musical spectrum Zoë Schwarz brings her spin on jazz on Friday the 13th. Brilliant Scat, and recommended………………”

 

THE CYLINDER @www.livewirelistings.co.uk

Fiona Hayes, Ye Olde George Inn, Christchurch - 23 January 2003

Dorchester based jazz vocalist Zoë Schwarz made her George Jazz Night debut at Ye Olde George Inn on Thursday 23 January, along with guitarist Rob Koral, and the bass player Brett Neville joining them for the first, but probably not the last time.  They started promptly at 20.30, which is refreshing, playing to a small audience, which grew to fill the Barn Bar during the evening.  Rob commenced proceedings with an incredibly intricate, skilful and moving intro on guitar to Autumn Leaves, joined by Brett on a dulcet bass, then Zoë’s vocals.  Her voice is excellent, with good vibrato, dynamics, and phrasing, great scat singing and she is particularly good in the lower registers.  Another fascinating intro from Rob’s exquisite guitar to Loverman, and Zoë sang with great depth, shades of Lady Day, Ella, Krall and Alison Moyet seeping through, proving she is a singer for all tastes whilst retaining her own style.  The audience rightly greeted this number with tremendous applause.  The Bossa nova Little Tear was next, the Brazilian tune rolling along gently under the hands of these three superb musicians, each of whom could stand as soloists in their own right.

 

The playlist was wonderfully mixed, Fly Me to the Moon, That Old Devil Called Love, St. Louis Blues, Masquerade, S’Wonderful, the boisterous Frim Fram Sauce and Once I Loved completing the first set.  Zoë’s great diction and lovely scat singing was to the fore in her powerful rendition of Lullaby of Birdland, whilst the Bossa nova Walk On By made you feel it had been specifically written for voice, guitar and bass.  I cannot stress enough the incredible input from Rob and Brett, their creativity and superb musicianship was awesome, fashioning a delectable string backdrop on which Zoë carefully fashioned her melodic verbal picture.  A suitably pain-ridden Don’t Explain was followed by the upbeat and joyful Sweet Georgia Brown, and songs that varied from light, through provocative to a 3am feel came thick and fast.

The audience couldn’t get enough of Zoë, Rob and Brett, as a tremendous roar went up with the applause after the last number.  An encore was called for and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love provided the solace needed until we can hear them again. Fiona xx

 

MARSHWOOD VALE MAGAZINE  February 2003

by Furgus Byrne,

LISTENING to Zoë Schwarz's tantalising voice, it is hard to believe that she's actually a very recent convert to Jazz. The extraordinary depth of intimacy in her vocal range belies what she calls the 'steep learning curve' from a performing Arts Degree in mostly modern and classical music, to spellbinding performances with some very accomplished jazz musicians.

 

A first listen to her recent CD Where did we begin? recorded with local jazz giants Rob Koral and Julie Lewis is a revelation. Where many before her have trampled all over classics with misguided self importance, Zoë Schwarz brings a refreshingly delicate, sometimes even naïve touch to songs such as Arthur Hamilton's Cry Me a River and the seductive Isham Jones melody It Had To Be You. For those that haven't had the opportunity to experience her blend of rich vocal colour and mellow midnight moods, February is the month to change that. Zoë Schwarz appears at different venues throughout the area variously accompanied by guitarist Rob Koral and pianist Julie Lewis.

 

Rob and Julie are names that need no introduction to local Jazz fans. Rob's CD's with Sue Hawker are prised possessions for many and Julie Lewis's keyboard and piano playing has banished many a deep conversation into misty irrelevance in local bars and restaurants.

 

Unlike the freestyle frenetic jazz of Miles Davis or John Coltrane, Rob Koral, Julie Lewis and Zoë Schwarz bring a fluid and smooth delivery to their performances. In an interview recently with local fan Georgina Hare, Rob described his playing as 'melodic and accessible, bridging between mainstream and classical'.