BEVERLEY BEIRNE is a well-known singer on the UK jazz circuit. Working out of Yorkshire, she’s a jazz festival mainstay and regularly fills clubs up and down the country with her quirky take on the jazz singer’s art.
First and foremost young Bev believes that all music (not just jazz) should be fun… and that mission statement is reflected in her new album – the 12 tracker that is ‘Jazz Just Wants To Have Fun’.
Growing up in Halifax on a diet of radio pop, Ms B decided that it would be an intriguing idea to take a selection of 80s classic pop hits and set them into jazz arrangements. To help her deliver, she enlisted garlanded producer Jason Miles (who readers will know from his own solo work and his time with people like Grover Washington, Luther Vandross and Miles Davis).
The 12 selected songs include ABC’s ‘When Smokey Sings’, The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’, Adam Ant’s ‘Prince Charming’, Slade’s ‘Come On Feel The Noize’ and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want To have Fun’ which, of course, gives the album it’s title. On all cuts, the treatments are hugely imaginative and if those tunes where your thing back then, you’ll be surprised (delighted even) at how good they sound in their new lounge-jazz settings.
