Liane Carroll

Liane Carroll (born 9 February 1964, London) is an English vocalist, pianist and keyboardist.[1]

Liane Carroll
Liane Carroll at Union Chapel, Islington, London, November 2007
Background information
Born	(1964-02-09) 9 February 1964 London, England
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Quietmoney, Proper, Splash Point, Hospital, Wah Wah 45s
Associated acts	London Elektricity, Part-Time Heroes
Website	www.lianecarroll.com

Liane Carroll at Jazzy Days in Denmark, 2016

Jazz critic Dave Gelly of The Observer has described her as "one of the most stylistically flexible pianists around, with a marvellous, slightly husky singing voice".[2] According to John Fordham of The Guardian, she is "a powerful, soul-inflected performer with an Ella Fitzgerald-like improv athleticism and an emotional frankness on ballads".[3] Peter Quinn of Jazzwise says: "Liane Carroll has that rare ability to meld effortless, often transcendent vocal and piano technique, with heart stopping emotion and soul bearing power."[4] Nick Hasted of The Independent says that she is "still frustratingly little-known" but calls her "one of Britain's most emotionally visceral and accomplished singers".[5]

Her five albums since 2009 have each received four-starred reviews in The Guardian or The Observer.

Early life

Carroll's parents were semi-professional singers who, she says, met and sang at the Country Club in Eastbourne.[6] She grew up in a musical household[6][7][nb 1] in Hastings[8] and in south London.[9] She started learning the piano at the age of three,[1][7] began composing at the age of eight,[9] and has been a professional singer, pianist and composer since she was 15.[10][11]

Professional career

In 1998 Carroll joined Trevor Watts' Moiré Music band and toured overseas with them.[11] She became a respected session musician and also worked in bands under Dave Holdsworth, Gerry Rafferty, Jerry Donohue and Long John Baldry.[9]

She formed her own trio and recorded for Jazz Art, Bridge, and Ronnie Scott's Jazz House.[9]

From 1996 to 2002, Carroll worked with singer-songwriter-guitarist Peter Kirtley, with whom she composed many songs. They appeared together on a charity single for Brazilian street children, on which Carroll's backing singer was Paul McCartney.[9][12]

From 1996 onwards Carroll started working with Hospital Records. In 2003 she toured internationally with a band formed by Hospital Records' owner Tony Colman, playing at the Brazilian Electro Dance Music Festival in Brasilia. In the early 2000s she began recording for the Splash Point label, releasing a series of recordings that embraced jazz, R&B and the singer-songwriter tradition. From 2005 onwards, she decided to focus on her jazz work.[9]

Liane Carroll has worked with many artists ranging from Sir Paul McCartney[10][nb 2] and Gerry Rafferty[nb 3] to Ladysmith Black Mambazo.[1] She has also performed as lead vocalist and Wurlitzer keyboardist for the drum and bass band London Elektricity.[10] She is a regular performer at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and the 606 Club in London, and has made several albums. In addition to performing, Carroll also teaches at jazz summer schools in the UK and Europe and also conducts workshops.[9]

Broadcasting

In 2013 Liane Carroll was a guest on Alex Horne's BBC Radio 4 comedy show Alex Horne Presents the Horne Section.[13][14]

Awards and recognition

In 2005 Liane Carroll won two awards in the BBC Jazz Awards: Best Vocalist and Best of Jazz.[15][16] In 2006 she won the Marston Pedigree Jazz Award for best vocalist.[9] On 13 May 2008, Andy Burnham MP, then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, presented her with the 2008 award for Jazz Musician of the Year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.[17][18] Her album Up and Down won in the Jazz Album of the Year category at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in May 2012.[19] In 2016 she won a Gold award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).[20]

Personal life

Liane Carroll lives in Hastings[10][21] with her husband Roger Carey, bassist in the Liane Carroll Trio; they married in 1990.[11] She has a daughter and grandchildren from her first marriage.

Discography

Dave Holdsworth-Liane Carroll Quartet

Album	Record label	Release date	Notes
Ten Day Simon	Cadillac	8 May 1990	With Dave Holdsworth on trumpet, this album features original compositions and jazz standards

Liane Carroll

Album	Record label	Release date	Notes
That's Life (Liane Carroll and Roger Carey)	Jazz Art	1991
Clearly	Bridge	1 October 1995	Features Dave Mattacks (drums) and Roger Carey (bass), with a guest appearance by trumpeter Dick Pearce
Dolly Bird	Ronnie Scott's Jazz House	18 August 1997	Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Features Peter Kirtley (guitar, vocals), Steve Lamb (bass guitar) and Greg Leppard (drums)
Son of Dolly Bird	Ronnie Scott's Jazz House	28 January 2002	Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in January 2001. Features Steve Lamb (bass guitar), Greg Leppard (drums) and special guest Julian Siegel (tenor saxophone)
Billy No Mates	Splash Point	CD (SPR001CD) on 14 September 2003[22]	Carroll's first solo album.[11] Includes four original songs by Carroll: "Three Sheets to the Wind", "Fly Little Bird", "Dublin Morning" and "Billy No Mates"[16]
Standard Issue	Splash Point	CD (SPR003CD) on 3 October 2005[23]	Recorded live on 5 June 2005 at Studio 1, Abbey Road Studios. Features the Liane Carroll Trio (Roger Carey on bass guitar and Greg Leppard on drums) and guests Ian Shaw (vocals), John Parricelli (guitar) and Bobby Wellins (tenor saxophone)[nb 4]
Slow Down	Splash Point	CD (SPR004CD) on 24 September 2007[24]	Solo album; Ian Shaw guests on one track[nb 5]
Liane Live DVD	Splash Point	DVD (SPR007DVD) on 4 February 2008[25]	Featuring concert by the Liane Carroll Trio (Roger Carey on bass and Mark Fletcher on drums) at the Brecon Jazz Festival 2006; Ian Shaw guests on one track[nb 6]
One Good Reason	Qnote, distributed by Universal Music	CD (QNT 10110) on 21 July 2008[26]	Recorded in 2002, as part of "The Passion"[27] with Jacqui Dankworth and Sara Colman[nb 7]
Break Even (with John Etheridge)	Dekkor	CD (RCD 027) on 24 November 2008[28]	With Hammond organist Pete Whittaker and drummer Mark Fletcher[nb 8]
Best Standard Issue	SSG Entertainment	CD (DC 9648) on 23 December 2008[29]	This album was released in Germany.[29] It has 17 tracks: duration 74 mins[30]
Live at the Lampie (with Brian Kellock)	Splash Point	CD (SPR009CD) on 11 May 2009[31]	Recorded live at The Blue Lamp pub in Aberdeen[nb 9]
Up and Down	Quietmoney, distributed by Proper Records	CD (QMR0001CD) on 27 June 2011	Recorded in London, Hastings, Brighton, Prague and Memphis, Tennessee, it features Kenny Wheeler, Kirk Whalum, Julian Siegel and James McMillan as guest soloists[32][33][nb 10]
Ballads[34]	Quietmoney, distributed by Proper Records	CD (QMR0002CD) on 15 April 2013	Recorded in Hastings,[35] it features Mark Edwards (piano), Gwilym Simcock (piano), Julian Siegel (bass clarinet) and Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone) with orchestration and big band arrangements by Chris Walden and includes Sophie Bancroft's song "Calgary Bay", performed with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra[36]
Seaside	Linn	CD (AKD 533) on 18 September 2015[37]	Recorded in Hastings, this studio album received four-starred reviews in The Guardian, The Observer and Mojo magazine.[38][39][40] The title track was written by Joe Stilgoe[37]
The Right to Love	Quietmoney, distributed by Proper Records	CD (QMR0004) in July 2017	Produced by James McMillan, this album received four-starred reviews in The Guardian,[41] The Observer[42] and the London Evening Standard.[43]

London Elektricity

Album	Record label	Release date	Notes
Pull the Plug	Hospital	CD (NHS12CD) on 7 June 1999[44]	Liane Carroll provides vocals on two of the tracks
Billion Dollar Gravy	Hospital	CD (NHS56CD) on 26 May 2003[45]	Liane Carroll provides vocals on some of the tracks
Live Gravy (live DVD album)	Hospital	DVD (NHS72DVD) on 24 May 2004[46]	A live concert at The Jazz Café, London, with two extra songs from London Elektricity's autumn 2003 tour, released on DVD
Power Ballads	Hospital	CD (NHS95CD) on 3 October 2005[47]	Liane Carroll provides vocals on four of the tracks[47]
Medical History	Hospital	MP3 album (NHSDL06) on 6 December 2006[48]	Liane Carroll takes lead vocals on five of the tracks
Syncopated City	Hospital	LP (NHS142LPX) on 1 September 2008; CD (NHS142CD) on 26 September 2008; Japanese Special Edition (NHS142JAPAN) with bonus tracks on 30 November 2008	Liane Carroll takes lead vocals on five of the tracks
Are We There Yet?	Hospital	LP (NHS280LP) on 6 November 2015; CD (NHS280) on 6 November 2015	Liane Carroll takes lead vocals on "Why Are We Here?"

PTH Projects featuring Liane Carroll

Single	Record label	Release date	Notes
"Pretend Paradise"	Wah Wah 45s	12-inch single (WAH1209) on 26 June 2006	Liane Carroll performs on the track "Pretend Paradise", which is coupled with "Thin Air" featuring Lara Vane[49][50]
"Pretend Paradise" (remix)	Wah Wah 45s	12-inch single (WAH12012) on 6 June 2007	Track listing – Track A: "Pretend Paradise" (Parta Herois De Tempo Mix); Track B: "What The Sun Brings"[51]

Chris Garrick and John Etheridge with Liane Carroll

Album	Record label	Release date	Notes
When The World Stopped For Snow	Flying Blue Whale Records	Album (FLY 8) in 2013

Compilation albums

Album	Record label	Release date	Notes
Hospital Accapellas	Hospital	CD (NHS171) on 12 July 2010[52]	Features various Hospital Records artists. Includes one track by Liane Carroll ("The Trap" [A cappella]). She is also lead vocalist on five of the six London Elektricity tracks[52]

Notes

1. In a short film by Sarah Linklater about Liane Carroll and her weekly performances at Porters, a small pub in Hastings, Carroll said that her parents were both singers and her grandmother had played the piano. Sarah Linklater for Hidden Gems (May 2011). "Liane Carroll (video)". Vimeo. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
2. Together with Paul McCartney, she performed with the Peter Kirtley Band on the 1998 charity CD single "Little Children".
3. She performed with Gerry Rafferty on his 1992 album, On a Wing and a Prayer. "Gerry Rafferty album: On a Wing and a Prayer, 1992". Music World. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
4. Reviewing Standard Issue for Jazzwise magazine, Peter Quinn said: "her arrangement of Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen' is close to musical perfection." Peter Quinn. "Liane Carroll: Standard Issue". Jazzwise. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
5. As well as jazz standards, and numbers by singer-songwriters including Laura Nyro, Donovan and Tom Waits, Slow Down includes an original song, "You Can't Slow My Heart Down", co-written by Liane Carroll with Peter Kirtley. Reviewing Slow Down for BBC Music, Kathryn Shackleton said: "On Slow Down Liane sings her way through the whole spectrum from jazz diva to fragile victim. Van Heusen and Cahn's 'All The Way' and Duke Ellington's 'In My Solitude' are remade as torch songs, with vulnerability oozing out of every verse, while 'Lazy Afternoon' perfectly captures her molasses low tones and silken high ones – her sparse electric piano accompaniment creating a brooding, hypnotic tension." Kathryn Shackleton (4 January 2008). "It doesn't just tug at your heart strings, it rips them out..." BBC Music. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
6. Filmed by the BBC, the DVD is introduced by Julian Joseph.
7. Reviewing One Good Reason for All About Jazz, Dave Major said that "at no time does one voice truly overpower the trio. Even in dense, concerted passages, you can appreciate each subtle nuance, change in vibrato or balance". Dave Major (26 September 2008). "CD/LP/Track Review: The Passion: One Good Reason (2008)". All About Jazz. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
8. Guardian reviewer John Fordham said of Break Even, "Carroll's confidence in the expressiveness of the smallest utterance gives her an irresistible eloquence, as strong at low volumes as it is at full throttle". John Fordham (13 February 2009). "John Etheridge/Liane Carroll: Break Even". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
9. Guardian reviewer John Fordham said of Live at the Lampie, "Since Liane Carroll can loose off a jazz-singing broadside that might touch on Betty Carter and Bobby McFerrin (with soul-vocal asides including everyone from Aretha to Stevie Wonder), and Scottish piano virtuoso Kellock has a comparable range from Fats Waller to free-improv, the potential for repetition in this duo is low. Released from her singer/pianist responsibilities, Carroll has rarely sounded more spontaneous and relaxed." John Fordham (14 August 2011). "Liane Carroll/Brian Kellock: Live at the Lampie". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
10. Guardian reviewer John Fordham said of Up and Down, "Singer/pianist Carroll is a world-class act, but this is the first recording to capture the full range of her expressiveness. Up and Down embraces intimate voice/piano performances, orchestra-backed extravaganzas and jazz jams with soloists of the pedigree of Kenny Wheeler and Julian Siegel." John Fordham; et al. (19 May 2011). "F&M Playlist". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2011.

References

1. Sean O'Shea (29 March 2013). "All that jazz..." Hastings Online Times. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
2. Dave Gelly and Carol McDaid (9 October 2005). "Liane Carroll, Standard Issue". The Observer. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
3. John Fordham (23 June 2011). "Liane Carroll: Up and Down – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
4. Peter Quinn (September 2015). "Liane Carroll – Sea of Joy". Jazzwise. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
5. Nick Hasted (30 December 2013). "Liane Carroll, jazz review: 'Pure yet raw'". The Independent. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
6. "Liane Carroll's solo show will be an emotional journey". Scotland on Sunday. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
7. "The worst kept secret in jazz: Liane Carroll". Lancashire Telegraph. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
8. Marcus Weeks (2008). Sussex Music. Alfriston: Snake River Press. ISBN 978-1-906022-10-5.
9. "Liane Carroll: Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
10. Sarah Linklater for Hidden Gems (May 2011). "Liane Carroll (video)". Vimeo. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
11. "Profile: Liane Carroll". Whirlwind Recordings. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
12. Rachel Bader (1 March 1999). "Paul McCartney backs charity CD for Brazilian street children" (Press release). Jubilee Campaign. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
13. "Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section, Series 2 Episode 6 of 6". BBC Radio 4. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
14. Howard Gorman (25 March 2013). "Alex Horne, Liane Carroll and the Ping Pong Ball". News. Comedy Chords. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
15. "Success at the BBC Jazz Awards 2005". Woman's Hour. BBC. 4 July 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
16. Debra C Argen (March 2006). "Liane Carroll Interview". Luxury Experience, Greenwich, Connecticut (USA). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
17. "The Jazz FM Awards 2013: Meet the Nominees: Liane Carroll – UK Vocalist of the Year". Jazz FM Awards. Jazz FM. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
18. "All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG)". Sandy Brown Jazz. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
19. Stephen Graham (17 May 2012). "Jazz breaking news: Liane Carroll, Jamie Cullum and Jon Newey among the winners at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards". Jazzwise. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
20. Daniel Gumble (4 October 2016). "BASCA Gold Badge Award winners revealed". Music Week. London. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
21. Peter Quinn (27 May 2011). "Liane Carroll – On the Upside". Jazzwise. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
22. "Splash Point Records releases Liane Carroll's fabulous solo album, "Billy No Mates"" (Press release). Splash Point Records. 9 September 2003. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
23. "Splash Point Records launches Standard Issue, the astounding new album by BBC Jazz Awards 2005 double-winner Liane Carroll" (Press release). Splash Point Records. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
24. "Liane Carroll Slow Down Review". BBC. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
25. "Liane Carroll – Liane Carroll Trio Live (DVD)". ProperMusic.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
26. "The Passion release debut album after ten years". Jazz News. June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
27. "Jazz Line-Up: The Passion". BBC Radio 3. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
28. "Break Even". ProperMusic.com. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
29. "Liane Carroll – Best Standard Issue CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
30. "Liane Carroll: Best Standard Issue". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
31. "Live at the Lampie". ProperMusic.com. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
32. Stephen Graham (8 April 2011). "Jazz breaking news: Liane Carroll Returns With New Album". Jazzwise. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
33. Dave Gelly (3 July 2011). "Liane Carroll: Up and Down – review". The Observer. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
34. John Bungey (13 April 2013). "Liane Carroll: Ballads". The Times. London. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
35. "Jazz legend Liane set to launch new album". Hastings & St. Leonards Observer. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
36. "Sophie Bancroft". Sophie Bancroft. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
37. "Liane Carroll to return in September with Seaside" (Press release). Marlbank. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
38. Dave Gelly (20 September 2015). "Liane Carroll: Seaside review – candour and artistry combined". The Observer. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
39. John Fordham (1 October 2015). "Liane Carroll: Seaside review – in her element in this seaside set". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
40. Fred Dellar (1 October 2015). "Liane Carroll – Seaside – Mojo". Linn Records. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
41. John Lewis (10 August 2017). "Liane Carroll: The Right to Love review – elegant vocalist finds new truths". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
42. Dave Gelly (23 July 2017). "Liane Carroll: The Right to Love review – emotional depth, superb arrangements". The Observer. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
43. Jane Cornwell (28 July 2017). "Liane Carroll, The Right to Love review: An expressive voice". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
44. "London Elektricity – Pull The Plug". Discogs. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
45. "London Elektricity – Billion Dollar Gravy". Discogs. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
46. "London Elektricity – Live Gravy". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
47. "London Elektricity – Power Ballads". Discogs. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
48. "London Elektricity – Medical History". Discogs. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
49. "Pretend Paradise 12" Single". Wah Wah 45s. 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
50. "PTH Projects – Pretend Paradise / Thin Air". Retrieved 28 July 2018.
51. "PTH Projects Featuring Liane Carroll – Pretend Paradise". Discogs. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
52. "Various Artists: Hospital Accapellas". Hospital Records. Retrieved 2 November 2015.

External links

• Official website