Jazz Voices

Rebecca Poole started her career as a runner on television and film sets - for a while she was a researcher on ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’. She had always written songs and wanted to sing - her brothers were in a band and were signed by EMI, but it was not until she did a season singing to skiiers and holiday makers in Switzerland that she decided to put a band together herself. She believes the experience in Switzerland was a great help in helping her to develop her craft.

 

Taking the 'stage name' Purdy, her voice began to get attention, and she went on to sing with Jools Holland's band and guested with Jamie Cullum at Cheltenham Jazz Festival. She gained wider attention when she was cast to sing Can't Take My Eyes Off You in the Netflix TV series 'The Crown'. Her vocal coach had put her name forward for the scene of 'Charles' and 'Diana's first publicly filmed dance (Josh O’Connor as Charles and Emma Corrin as Diana). Here is a clip from the film with Rebecca singing with actresses Aimee Hodnett and Kate Parr.

 

Rebecca  decided to return to her birth name for her praised new album, the more jazz influenced Dreamer's Ball released in October last year.  Here's a brief video introduction with the Rebecca singing the title track. All but one of he songs on the album are written by Rebecca, the exception being Elvis Costello's Almost Blue. Rebecca says of the album: "It has been a fulfilling experience, finding my way back to jazz   ... it was important to me to record the whole band together in one room. Each song you hear is one take and you can feel the integrity that comes with that." The band she refers to has Mark Edwards (piano); Dominic Stockbridge (guitar); Loz Garratt (acoustic bass) and Matt Skelton or Evan Jenkins (drums). James McMillan is added on brass on some tracks such as Live For The Moment. Rebecca continues: "I love how this album is a collection of new compositions combined with some carefully picked poignant songs from my past that have been praised by my listeners. It feels like a musical journey back home .....,"

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A review in Jazzwise magazine says: "Charismatic UK singer Poole here sings (mostly) her own strong tunes backed by a great band and moves effortlessly between the swinging and the tender. It's all rather splendid with Blue Eyes and the title track a highlight in the standout set." and in London Jazz News: "..... On this evidence, jazz should welcome her return with open arms...."

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 Here is a video for the song Wouldn't Change A Thing: