‘Smart and soulful’
The Guardian
‘Smart and soulful’
The Guardian
Ian Shaw is one of the most recognisable names on the UK jazz scene, performing in the UK and worldwide both solo and in collaboration with an array of first-class musicians and ensembles. His career of over thirty-five years encompasses not only music but also broadcasting, comedy and acting. He is the recipient of two BBC Jazz Awards and a Parliamentary Jazz Award. Jazzwise described him as ‘the leading male jazz singer of his generation in the UK’.
Ian was born in St. Asaph, Wales, into a musical family. He joined local youth bands and took part in youth theatre, and in his teens he regularly played keyboard at local pubs. At eighteen, he moved to London where he took a music degree at King’s College, London.
In his early 20s, Ian worked as a piano player in bars in London and across Europe and North America with a repertoire of contemporary pop. He developed a love of jazz, regularly visiting Ronnie Scott’s and purchasing LPs from Soho music shops. His performance evolved to include satirical humour and political commentary, and he joined the alternative comedy circuit that included Mark Steel, Rory Bremner, Jo Brand and Julian Clary.
During this period he collaborated with composer and performer Andrew Phillips. The duo explored themes of protest and counterculture, the fight for equality and the rights of marginalised communities. This led to Ian’s first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe in their show Sounding Out, as well as his first studio album recording, Snowing Upwards In June.
A demo tape of Ian playing with his band Brave was passed to Ronnie Scott by Brian Blaine, then head of The Musicians’ Union. This led to Ian being regularly booked as a support act at the club, with Ronnie himself persuading him to concentrate on performing jazz.
Having guested on Carol Grimes’ 1989 album Why Don’t They Dance, Ian collaborated with her on a duo album of original songs, Lazy Blue Eyes, which was released on Offbeat Records in 1990.
His next album, Ghostsongs (1992), was recorded with a five-piece band live at Ronnie Scott’s and released on their Jazzhouse label. Two further albums were released on Jazzhouse: Taking It To Hart (1995), a collection of songs by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, and The Echo Of A Song (1996). All the songs for this last album were chosen by Ronnie Scott himself.
At this time, Ian was invited to record an album on EFZ, Famous Rainy Day (1995) on which Ian re-interpreted pop songs written mostly by female songwriters.
While touring the US, Ian came to the attention of legendary jazz label Milestone Records who teamed him with pianist Cedar Walton for his 1999 album In A New York Minute. A second recording on Milestone Records, Soho Stories (2001), was recorded in New York’s Soho and featured songs that Ian regarded as his personal ‘great American songbook’.
Moving to 441 Records, Ian recorded A World Still Turning (2003) which contained his much-played track Alone Again, written by Gilbert O’Sullivan. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded the album a maximum four stars, describing it as ‘engaged, passionate and musically rewarding’.
Since his teenage years, Joni Mitchell had been an important inspiration to Ian, and in 2006 he recorded a selection of the songs of hers that had the most meaning to him. Drawn To All Things: The Songs Of Joni Mitchell, was the first of two records on Linn Records. Lifejacket (2008) consisted chiefly of original compositions with lyrics drawn from his own life experiences. Tracks included Love At First Tequila, inspired by a quote from Amy Winehouse, and 42 in which he duetted with Liane Carroll.
Somewhere Towards Love (2009), his only solo album to date, was described by The Guardian as ‘high-class performance of timelessly high-class songs’ and Molly Parkin chose the title song on Desert Island Discs (BBC Radio 4). This was followed by the 2011 release The Abbey Road Sessions for which Ian assembled a multi-generational band including legendary bassist Peter Ind and pianist Phil Ware. His final album on Splash Point Records was A Ghost in Every Bar: The Lyrics of Fran Landesman (2012). Ian had been friends with Fran for many years, and shortly after her death he recorded this album in her memory.
The Theory Of Joy (2016) was Ian’s first album on French label, Jazz Village. The three original tracks included the single My Brother, written about Ian’s sibling who died as an infant before Ian was born. This was followed by Shine Sister Shine (2018) comprising Ian’s interpretations of songs by female artists significant to him. The title track, co-written with singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram, was a tribute to women’s marches around the world. The album was performed that year at Love Supreme Festival.
In 2018, Ian was invited to record with a trio of Italian jazz musicians led by Enzo Zirilli. Integrity was released in 2020 on Abeat Records.
Working with saxophonist Iain Ballamy and pianist Jamie Safir, Ian recorded a suite of standards, What’s New, released in 2020 on Silent Wish Records. Ian continued his collaboration with Jamie Safir, co-writing the 2023 album Greek Street Friday, also released on Silent Wish Records. Singer-songwriter Matt Kent and vocalist Polly Gibbons provided guest vocals. Containing deeply personal lyrics, this was Ian’s second album of original songs.
Ian’s most recent album, released in 2024, featured saxophonist Tony Kofi. An Adventurous Dream, The Music Of Billy Strayhorn And Duke Ellington was recorded live in concert at PizzaExpress Soho and released on PX Records.
Ian has appeared regularly at London venues including Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Club, the Vortex and Crazy Coqs. Since 2008 he has hosted Ian Shaw & Friends, a week-long residency at PizzaExpress Soho with each show featuring a specially invited guest. He has performed around the UK at arts centres, clubs and festivals, including Love Supreme, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival.
Ian has performed in Europe, North America, Australia and East Asia, both solo and with local musicians, including appearances at North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam), Elbjazz (Hamburg) and Toronto Jazz Festival.
Ian continues to perform extensively in UK and worldwide.
These include: Opening gala for London Jazz Festival (2007, 2011, 2014, 2022), London on Film (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2012), Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels (Royal Festival Hall, 2013; Antwerp, 2014), 100 Years of British Song (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2014), Shine Sister Shine tour (including Kings Place, 2018), tour and Pee Wee Ellis’ Christmas tours (Germany and Austria, 2018 and 2019), Kurt Elling’s The Big Blind (Lincoln Center, 2019; Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2020), Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Black Milk (Hallé St Peter’s, Manchester, 2021).
In 2022, Ian celebrated his birthday with Shaw at 60, a concert at Kings Place with guests including singers Madeline Bell and Elaine Delmar, trumpeter Guy Barker, actor Haydn Gwynne and comedian Julian Clary.
Notable artists Ian has worked with include: Quincy Jones, Abdullah Ibrahim, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Georgie Fame, Barb Jungr, Mari Wilson, Susan George, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano and Joe Beck.
He has worked with large ensembles including the BBC Big Band, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the RTÉ Orchestra and the HR Big Band (Frankfurt Radio Orchestra).
Ian’s ongoing collaborations include Claire Martin, Guy Barker and Madeline Bell.
In 1980s, Ian appeared in fringe productions including Vivian Stanshall’s comedic opera Stinkfoot at Bloomsbury Theatre. In 2002, he performed in Jerry Springer: The Opera during its run at Battersea Arts Centre, playing Warm-Up Man/Devil, a role which was created for him by Richard Thomas and Stuart Lee. He played Percy in the 2005 film Pierrepoint alongside Timothy Spall and Juliet Stevenson, and Eric in the 2013 film Titus alongside Ann Mitchell and Ron Cephas Jones.
In 2011 Ian joined Rory Bremner on his nationwide stand-up tour performing a mix of comedy and original songs. The tour continued into 2012, including dates at the Glasgow Comedy Festival. Following this, Ian was invited to create his own show for the Edinburgh Fringe. A Bit Of A Mouthful - An Evening With Ian Shaw, which played at the Stand Comedy Club for a month-long run, was described by Edinburgh Evening News as ‘packed with playful remarks and witty lyrics’. Ian toured the show in the UK and took it to the Adelaide Comedy Festival in 2015 at the invitation of Barry Humphries.
In 2004, Ian presented Big Band Special, BBC Radio 2’s weekly jazz programme. Since 2012 he has presented the Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show, broadcast in the UK on Jazz FM and syndicated worldwide including the US (Jazz90.1 and Jazz88.FM) and Canada (Jazz.FM91). The show has featured music and ‘in conversation’ guests including Al Jarreau, Kenny Garrett, Patti Austin, Ruby Turner, Van Morrison, Fred Wesley and Marlena Shaw.
Ian has produced three series of his podcast Not Even Music. Among his most successful videos, My Brother has reached over 46,000 views. He has also featured as a vocalist on singles for drum’n’bass artists on the electronic label Hospital Records, including Camo & Krooked, High Contrast, and S.P.Y., with views of several million.
Ian’s television appearances include Jools Holland’s The Happening (Channel 4), Top of the Pops and The Jack Dee Show. He has contributed to documentaries about ABBA, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, and Cleo Laine, amongst others on Sky Arts and Channel 4.
In 2004, he co-presented the BBC Jazz Awards with Claire Martin, and following this he has regularly been asked to compère events, including the 2013 inaugural Jazz FM Awards ceremony.
Ian worked as a vocal coach with Charlotte Church to develop her pop voice. He has been a producer on many albums including those for singers Gwyneth Herbert and Polly Gibbons. He has given masterclasses both in the UK and abroad.
Ian has sung on several classical music albums, including Brodsky Quartet’s Moodswings (2003) and Psappha’s Commissions (2022) on which Ian sings Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Black Milk.
Ian has been in demand as a session singer for music recordings and commercials.
Ian has campaigned in support of refugees, and he worked as a volunteer in the Calais Jungle encampment. He is a patron of Side by Side Refugees which provides humanitarian aid to those fleeing war, poverty and persecution, and since 2020 he has been a patron of Refugee Support. He organised fundraisers, including 2015 events at The Vortex Jazz Club and Phoenix Artist Club and a 2016 event at The 606 Club. His music video of My Brother, a track from his album The Theory of Joy, was released to raise money for refugee charities.
Ian won the BBC Jazz award for Best Vocalist for 2004 and 2007. He was nominated for Best Vocalist at the Jazz FM awards in 2013 and 2019. He won the Best Jazz Vocalist award at the 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. In 2023 he was awarded a Bath Comedy Festival award.
Banner photography by James Christos.
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