Sam Burgess - bass...
Al Cherry - guitar...
Dave Price - percussion and fiddle...
Steve Holness - piano...
Mike Outram - guitar...
Tom Cawley - piano...
Influences
Janis Ian, David Bowie, Nina Simone, Tom Cawley, Emily Dickinson, Rufus Wainwright, Velvet Underground, Paul Simon, Regina Spektor, Eugene O'Neill, Joni Mitchell, Toni Morrison, Stephen Fearing, Fran Landesman, Martin Read, James Taylor, Billie Holiday, Bill Withers, Bill Hicks, Ogden Nash, Tom Waits, Smashing Pumpkins, Laura Nyro, Bob Dylan, Neil Young...
Sounds Like
Reviews for most recent album "Between Me and the Wardrobe", Blue Note:
***** 'With her bewitching voice, the jazz-folk star was never just your standard covers singer. And here is the proof' - Observer Music Monthly
"Superb music... Brilliantly original, full of space and isolated detail." - MOJO
"A Masterpiece" - Courtney Pine
"Her lyrics are consistently engaging... singing with a rare balance of passion and control... one of this year's word-of-mouth hits, with Herbert poised as one of Britain's brightest young talents." - The Telegraph
"Given the freedom to write the record that she wanted, Herbert has delivered a set of very personal songs on which she often sounds closer to Sandy Denny than, say, Sarah Vaughan. Each has a singular mood and texture, from the bittersweet balladry of Midnight Oil to the euphoria of The Morning After… her exquisite voice has found a happier home." -
The Times
"The songs are compacted narrative jewels... The music is oak-like, rich and weathered... full of unexpected and highly rewarding details. Recommended." - BBC Jazz Review
"Gwyneth Herbert is... blessed with a timeless voice full of vulnerability, playfulness and pathos. Rounded out only by a gut-string guitar and a double bass, her music is the stuff of dreams — at twists light, funny, intimate, heartwringing and truly emotive. Recently signed to Blue Note, Herbert breathes with talent as both a vocalist and a composer, something that is more than evident in her ethereal mixture of folk, jazz and the familiar cadences of 20th-century musical tradition" - Flavorpill
"Their (the songs') affecting power is so pronounced as to entirely vindicate her commendable insistence on making her own voice heard rather than as she was reportedly asked to do by Universal recording an album of big-band covers. For Herbert's own voice is, in the literal sense, a wonderfully flexible instrument, capable both of whispered intimacy and pleasantly strident power; in the figurative sense it is expressive of a rich complex of emotions..." - The Vortex Review
"Gwyneth Herbert has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve heard in a very long time, at once fragile and powerful and always dripping with emotion." 10/10 - DSD
----------------------------------------
Here are Al and I recording a version of "Lay You Down" for a Blue Note podcast last week...
"A voice that's a knowing mix of honey, steel and gravel... Her voice vibrating over the lyrics in a way that makes your toes curl" - The Observer
"The jazz folk-diva with an awesome voice. Expect beguiling, powerful and often witty songs that strike an emotional chord!" - Time Out, London
"A remarkably gifted talent" - The Guardian
"Intelligent and technically awesome singer" - The Guardian
"A gifted singer and a true audience communicator" - The Independent
"If Gwyneth Herbert is not a star before long, I'll eat my CD player" - The Sunday Times
"Herbert is a hugely assured, sensual vocalist who can live a lyric" - The Times
"A portrait of the popular entertainer which uses a unique combination of rare and unseen archive including home movies, performances, and interviews with friends and family." Not sure which category I fit into, but if like me you missed my hugely fascinating and incredibly qualified contribution to this documentary last night, alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder, B. B. King and Eartha Kitt, then click HERE and you can watch it online.
The very narrow and delectable Nathan Penlington is bringing out a book this month, full to the brim with his beautiful poems. Be ye not afeared of the word 'poetry', for these aren't your average tedious ramblings, pompous pontifications or wordy bafflings. Rather, Almost Nearly is a collection of approachable, wondrous gems all presented on the page in a variety of highly original and exciting ways. You can purchase your limited edition copy HERE.
...IN THE REAL WORLD...
Last month, the boys and I spent some time down at Real World Studios recording some new tracks. It's such an amazing place, built in a converted old water-mill, surrounded by rolling hills and with water running underneath the glass floors. We stayed up 'til the early hours arranging and jamming and recording and drinking pink fizz. Originally, we were just planning to use the time to demo some new songs, but everyone got a little excited... Watch this space for news of a forthcoming album...
...WIN-A-GWYN-A-GRAM 2008...
Thank you for all your wonderful Gwyn-a-gram entries... We received so many beautiful odes and heart-warming love-declarations that it was extremely hard to pick a winner. In the end, we serenaded Alan and a very surprised Samantha down in St.Leonards-on-Sea, near Hastings.
...WIN A REQUEST...WIN A REQUEST...WIN A REQUEST...
If you have a favourite song you'd like me to sing at a show, drop me a MySpace message or email with the title, gig location and any dedication requests. Songs can be taken from 'First Songs', 'Bittersweet and Blue' or 'Between Me and the Wardrobe'.
...NEW SONGS...NEW SONGS...NEW SONGS...NEW SONGS...
If you've been to a gig recently, you'll have met some of the new characters that have been seeping into the show... Russian hookers and narrow men and horny sirens and drunken dead-beats... You can find lyrics HERE, and 'Jane Into A Beauty Queen' is now available to download above.
Take it easy, and hope to see you at a gig soon...
Hi Gwyn, it was fabulous to meet you both last weekend. I look forward to seeing you again soon and hopefully hear you perform sometime! Have a great week. xx
It's time to crump...Coronary Crumpage number 4 hits this Thursday 3RD July...THE INVISIBLE, DEF LANGOUSTINE, SEYMOUR'S FAT LADY and DJs...yesyesyesyes...
Hey Gwyneth, good to see you on saturday night, great set too - I really enjoyed it. I managed to get a couple of good photo's that'll probably make their way onto the premises myspace soon.
I hope you're well and staying lovely, take care. S. x
Hi Gwyneth Love the new tracks. Bugger, missed the nat KC doc!!!! I hope we get to see you soon. As you can see we are busy but miss youre lovelly music & company! CP talks very highly of you.... Kindest Regards Mick & Gillian
