User:Sue McCreeth

Sue McCreeth (Born 6 June 1960) is a well-regarded British jazz musician, a reputation consolidated for her by the music critic Selwyn Harris in Jazzwise Magazine, saying of her album release No Evil (2014) “another high-quality recording from this ultra-flexible, well-regarded vocalist.” [1] John Fordham, Jazz Critic within the Guardian newspaper [2] in a four star review for her album Look Back and Love (June 2017) described her composition as “Highly original songwriting in wildly contrasting styles."[3] Jazz Critic, Dave Gelly, MBE, [4] wrote the sleevenotes for Look Back and Love, saying, “She sings with warmth and intimacy, and commands a wonderful flexibility in her vocal tone, which allows her to match it exactly to the message or atmosphere of any particular piece.” [5] Her home town of Grantham in Grantham Journal since 1954, wrote, “Sue, who has long been championed by music critics, is also widely admired by fans as one of the most accomplished and creative jazz talents of her generation.” [6]

INFLUENCES

McCreeth has been influenced by a wide range of musicians including Jill Scot [7], Lalah Hathaway [8] Carmen Lundy [9] Pat Metheney [10] Miles Davis [11] Joe Zawinul [12] Airto Moreiro and Flora Purim [13] Laura Nyro [14] Joni Mitchell [15] Erykah Badu [16] Ella Fitzgerald [17] Sarah Vaughan [18] And Gary Burton [19] (with whom she also studied composition and improvisation) at Berklee College of Music, USA.

CAREER McCreeth’s professional jazz performance career commenced with the launch of her CD, 500 miles high the air is blue (2002), as catalogued in the National Jazz Archive. [20] The live date was held at the renowned London Jazz Club, Pizza on the Park, Knightsbridge, in January 2003, and was reviewed by John Fordham in the Guardian newspaper, “She has a rich mid register… she is calmly inventive, boldly ambitious, and she has imagination and heart.” [21] She went on to record albums, Just for Luxury (2004) No Evil (2014) Queer Bird (2016) and Look Back and Love (2017), to ongoing critical acclaim from all quarters of the jazz press (see Discography and Critical Reception below). Many UK regional radio stations have played Sue McCreeth’s recordings, including BBC Radio Scotland [22] and Jazz London Radio [23].

McCreeth also writes and records with the band 'Infinite Sunday'. Their album release Infinite Sunday (2012) garnered nearly 4,000 followers on Facebook. [24]

COLLABORATORS

McCreeth has had the privilege to work with many of the UK’s most admired jazz musicians including Andrew Cleyndert (bass) [25] Dave Green (bass) [26] John Horler (piano) [27] Martin Shaw (trumpet) [28] Jim Mullen (guitar) [29] Steve Waterman (trumpet). [30]  In ‘Infinite Sunday’ she collaborates with Mike Varty [31] and Ian Samon [32] She has collaborated with USA jazz pianist Joe Mulholland. [33] She toured and recorded with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland jazz musicians including Mario Caribe (bass) [34] and Paul Harrison (piano) [35] With whom she performed at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival in 2019. [36] During 2019 she recorded with Luis Cano (piano) [37] She also worked for a number of years with Pat McCarthy. (guitar) [38] Most of Sue McCreeth’s original recordings have been mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios, London [39]

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Alongside her professional writing, recording, touring and teaching career, McCreeth continued her professional development apace, studying voice under the (now retired) Head of Voice of The Royal Academy of Music, London, Joy Mammen [40] with whom she cultivated a style marked by technical precision and emotive depth.

In 2015 and 2016 she studied improvisation and composition with Berklee College of Music, USA, studying with Gary Burton and Joe Mulholland. [41] She received Grade A for all finals work in all categories, and the accolade from Gary Burton, "Your work is logical and effective, this seems to come naturally to you." Her composition tutor, Professor of Harmony, Joe Mulholland, wrote, “You lift up everyone who works with you.” McCreeth’s songs have subsequently been used as teaching materials within Berklee College of Music and Joe Mulholland played piano on Sue McCreeth’s track, Save the Children Now. [42]

EARLY LIFE

Sue McCreeth’s parents met whilst working together in a skiffle band. She started playing guitar aged 9, and was also writing songs from that age. She was singing in a semi-professional band two to three nights a week from the age of 16, and at age 18 she joined the well-regarded Lincolnshire dance band, The Brass Roots. During her early twenties she also sang with the RAF College of Cranwell Dance Band, the Ken Mackintosh Band and The Bob Miller Band. At age 24, she returned to full time education studying Voice (RSBM Grade VIII), Theory (RBSM Grade VIII), Piano and Guitar (RSBM Grade V). She studied at the University of Sussex, graduating with a 2.1 Honour degree in Music in 1991. She honed her professional style working in London’s top hotels as a pianist/vocalist.

CRITICAL RECEPTION

In addition to the reviews mentioned above, these are just a few of the dozens of reviews in various publications over a period of 20 years.

See Sue McCreeth in Jazz Music Archives: https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/artist/sue-mccreeth

National Jazz Archive, 2002 500 miles high the air is blue “A beautiful piece of work from Sue MCreeth. Her voice is almost simultaneously ethereal, sensuous and torchy … You Go To My Head is a small gem of creativity” Herbie Flowers https://nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/explore/journals/jazz-uk/jazz-uk-52/1268800-jazz-uk-52-0019?q=Sue%20McCreeth

National Jazz Archive, 2004 Just For Luxury “Young singer McCreeth with an A List UK bop band … McCreeth applies her plush mid range and rhythmic flexibility” https://nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/explore/journals/jazz-uk/jazz-uk-66/1269142-jazz-uk-66-0020?q=Sue%20McCreeth

The Jazzman (June 28, 2006) Just for Luxury “Sassy, sensual, reflective and rueful - her voice purrs and whispers… McCreeth takes musical risks and brings a genuine jazz sensibility to her singing. Her album contains an eclectic choice of material performed with inspired collaborators who are the cream of Britain’s jazz crop. It is a proper jazz album and a genuine musical statement rather than a shallow attempt to copy current musical fashions.” Ian Mann https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/just-for-luxury

The Observer, October 20, 2002 500 miles high the air is blue “She has a cool misty kind of a voice and a style which invites rather than insists upon attention, outstanding.” Dave Gelly (The The Guardian Newspaper archives)

Jazzwise July 2017 Look Back and Love “This sixth album from singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sue McCreeth presents an eclectic anthology of some of her finest original recordings over the last 15 years… beatific.” Peter Quinn https://www.jazzwise.com/review/sue-mccreeth-look-back-and-love

Jazzwise No Evil “ A more mainstream jazz session but nevertheless another high quality recording from this ultra-flexible, well-regarded vocalist, singing from the Great American and modern jazz songbook with a quartet including Jim Mullen.” https://www.jazzwise.com/review/sue-mccreeth-no-evil

The Observer July 2017 Look Back and Love “**** She alters her singing voice quite radically to suit the character of individual songs. As a result, the sheer contrast from one song to another, while very effective, can be a little bewildering until you get used to it… impressive” Dave Gelly, The Observer and The Guardian Wednesday, June 07, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/18/sue-mccreeth-look-back-and-love-album-review-tru-nu

11 May 2014 The Guardian No Evil “It's not singer plus accompaniment so much as four musicians working together, and the result is a dozen intimate and nicely judged performances.” https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/11/no-evil-review-sue-mccreeth-intimate-affair

2017 BE-BOP SPOKEN HERE June 2017 CD Review: Sue McCreeth - Look Back And Love “You could read this review, or you could go to the website, www.suemccreeth.com and play the video of “Sat Nam”, and you’ll get a good idea of what this superb singer and her various musicians are all about.” Ann Alex https://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.com/2017/06/cd-review-sue-mccreeth-look-back-and.html

Summer 2015 The Observer Queer Bird: Elegant Songs of England Born “The merest glance at the titles and composers of these twelve songs should tell you that Sue McCreeth is not your average jazz singer … She sings in a warm, intimate voice and a deceptively simple style. Simple it may be, but it’s far from artless.” Dave Gelly THIS WILL HAVE TO BE A SCANNED REVIEW PLACED ON MY WEBSITE

The Guardian 2014 No Evil “Sue's deep and knowledgable love for jazz shines in every arrangement and the musicians she assembled provide a tour-de-force in musicality…Sue shows herself to be a skilful and faithful interpreter of the repertoire … A fine album by any standard(s).” https://www.google.com/search?q=jazz+uk+no+evil+sue+mccreeth&oq=jazz+uk+no+evil+sue+mccreeth&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDYwNjVqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The Guardian 11 May 2014 No Evil **** “It's not singer plus accompaniment so much as four musicians working together, and the result is a dozen intimate and nicely judged performances. The subdued volume brings out the best in McCreeth's voice, especially her whispery low register.” Dave Gelly https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/11/no-evil-review-sue-mccreeth-intimate-affair

Dave Gelly wrote the cover notes for her single, Save the Children Now (2019), saying, “she has a rare talent for moulding the tone of her voice to match the atmosphere and message of a song. Cool and misty, warm and emotional, whatever the song the voice naturally takes on its colouring” http://www.suemccreeth.com/Sue-McCreeth-REVIEWS-Updated.pdf

AWARDS

McCreeth has received three jazz touring awards from Jazz Services UK. Other awards include semi-finalist International Songwriting Competition, Jazz Category, 2003 for her song, Sat Nam. and semi-finalist International Songwriting Competition, Jazz Category, 2011 for her song, She Want Him. Judges included Pat Metheny and Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records).

DISCOGRAPHY

500 miles high the air is blue (2002) Tru-Nu Just for Luxury (2004) Tru-Nu No Evil (2014) Tru-Nu Queer Bird (2016) Tru-Nu Infinite Sunday (2012) Tru-Nu Look Back and Love (2017) Tru-Nu

[1] https://www.jazzwise.com/review/sue-mccreeth-no-evil

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnfordham

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/18/sue-mccreeth-look-back-and-love-album-review-tru-nu

[4] [https://www.google.com/search?%20q=dave+gelly&oq=dave+gelly&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGDsyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg8MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPNIBCDM3MzlqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#ip=1 https://www.google.com/search? q=dave+gelly&oq=dave+gelly&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGDsyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg8MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPNIBCDM3MzlqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#ip=1]

[5] [https://www.google.com/search?%20q=dave+gelly&oq=dave+gelly&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGDsyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg8MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPNIBCDM3MzlqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#ip=1

[6] https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/whats-on/what-s-on-highly-acclaimed-jazz-singer-coming-to-grantham-con-club-1-8447176/

[7] https://www.google.com/search?q=jill+scott+singer&sca_esv=570013460&sxsrf=AM9HkKl2jEbSmNd2NIFo5EwFGojE8KPTBQ%3A1696248609252&ei=IbMaZZv9DoS8hbIP8MmfWA&gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwMUmvLDRg9BLMyszJUShOzi8pUSjOzEtPLQIAjMAJ9A&oq=jill+scot&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiCWppbGwgc2NvdCoCCAYyBxAjGIoFGCcyDhAuGIMBGLEDGIoFGJECMggQABiKBRiRAjIIEAAYigUYkQIyCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBMgsQABiABBixAxiDATIIEC4YgAQYsQMyCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BMgUQABiABDILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEyFxAuGIAEGLEDGJcFGNwEGN4EGN8E2AEBSMUzUOYUWOYUcAJ4AZABAJgB1QGgAYQDqgEFMC4xLjG4AQHIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLAD4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGB7oGBggBEAEYFA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

[8] https://www.google.com/search?q=lalah+hathaway&oq=lalah+hathaway&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDM3MDNqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[9] https://carmenlundy.com/

[10] https://www.patmetheny.com/

[11] https://www.milesdavis.com/

[12] https://www.joezawinul.com/

[13] https://bbemusic.com/product/airto-flora-a-celebration-60-years-sounds-dreams-other-stories

[14] http://www.lauranyro.com/

[15] https://jonimitchell.com/

[16] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erykah-Badu

[17] https://www.ellafitzgerald.com/biography/#/

[18] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sarah-Vaughan

[19] https://college.berklee.edu/people/gary-burton

[20] https://nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/explore/journals/jazz-uk/jazz-uk-52/1268800-jazz-uk-52-0019?q=JAZZ%20NEWS

[21] https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jan/07/jazz.artsfeatures

[22] https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_scotland_fm

[23] https://www.jazzlondonradio.com/

[24] https://www.facebook.com/infinitesunday/

[25] http://www.woodvillerecords.com/Andrew%20Cleyndert.htm

[26] http://www.triorecords.co.uk/dave_green.html

[27] https://johnhorler.co.uk/

[28] http://www.pureblissmusic.com/artist/martin-shaw

[29] https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jim-mullen/

[30] https://www.rwcmd.ac.uk/staff/steve-waterman

[31] https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mike-varty-mn0001063544/credits

[32] https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Ian%20Salmon

[33] https://college.berklee.edu/people/joseph-mulholland

[34] https://www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/mario-caribe/

[35] https://www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/paul-harrison/

[36] https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC101904

[37] https://luiscanomusic.net/music

[38] https://www.jazzguitartuition.com/

[39] https://www.abbeyroad.com/engineer/alex-wharton

[40] https://joymammen.com/

[41] https://cloud.info.berklee.edu/bol-general?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkPiQAK&pid=4897&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=bol-gen-text-brand-online&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote-nhh_YV7gtbfOyNv2L9DxQ7kiPcMiZJ2VOSdt9VEs947d2RfA6EWAaAt6UEALw_wcB

[42] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz31dOUUbrw