Claire Martin

Had Claire Martin pursued the trumpet rather than vocals, comparisons might have linked her to Miles Davis and Chet Baker instead of Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, or Lee Morgan. An alto saxophone route, meanwhile, could have placed her nearer to Lee Konitz and Paul Desmond than to Jackie McLean, Phil Woods, or Gene Quill. Deeply shaped by the cool-school singers of the 1950s, the British performer shares their preference for nuance and control over force, echoing Chris Connor, June Christy, and Julie London in particular. Born in London in 1967 and immersed in a rock & roll climate, she also absorbed contemporary influences from Joni Mitchell to Kate Bush.

She began theatrical school at six and, still in her early teens, received the British Arts Awards' Best Solo Vocalist title on two occasions. Before her first appearance at Ronnie Scott's in London at age 21, she earned a living in roles ranging from singing waitress to secretary. Martin subsequently ranked among England's foremost jazz vocalists, earning the British Jazz Awards' Best New Jazz Artist designation in 1994 and Best Jazz Singer honor in 1995. Even so, she remained largely unfamiliar to American audiences through late 1996. During an October visit to New York that year, she recorded for the first time alongside U.S. jazz musicians, among them alto saxophonist Antonio Hart.