Bernadette Reed in the Festival Cafe

"music strokes, tickles and magnifies your soul"

"I first got interested in jazz singing in the 1990s. I contacted a local jazz guitarist where I live in SE London to take some singing lessons. I then joined a performance workshop once a week (Mycenae House in Blackheath, SE London organised by local jazz entrepreneur Dave Silk) It was a local jam session where established pros come along and play with whoever’s there who wanted to do a number. Over the weeks and months I went from total beginner to performance standard - a steady and in some places dramatic life change! I also attended a Jazz Summer school in Essex, not unlike what’s available in Trefforest.I have special appreciation for Liane Carroll my voice tutor on my course, a frequent and brilliantly talented performer at Ronnie Scott’s in London. I have also attended improvisation courses at local colleges and have one to one voice coaching.

In 1999 having developed a strong gigging repertoire with a fine guitarist I’d met at my local workshop called Simon Goodwin, and pianist/trumpeter/vocalist drummer - you name it she could play it - called Jo Miller, we recorded our first CD ‘Acoustic Tardis’. That was great fun and 12 numbers done in a day! In Autumn 2002 I then reconnected with the pianist Matt Dungey and started working on repertoire and gigging with him in duo or trio arrangements. That’s been great and has introduced me to a new community of musicians. We then produced the CD ‘Dakini Daiquiri’ Dec 2002 with others including Carl Orr jazz funk guitarist and lead guitarist with internationally acclaimed drummer Billy Cobham. It was a treat to work with Carl whose talent, experience and wicked sense of humour taught us a lot.

Now I’m just delighted to learn more and keep playing and singing. There are so many songs out there already written and to be written, something I am now doing with singer song-writer Mitch Hiller who sings with the Foundations and has backed people like Chaka Kahn, Lulu and many others. I really do think music strokes, tickles and magnifies your soul."