Notes from producer Todd Barkan on the
recording of Ian Shaw's album A World Still Turning
at Avatar Studios
Pictured from left to right: Producer Todd Barkan, Ian Shaw, manager Darren Crowdy and
engineer Katherine Miller.
A WORLD
STILL TURNING is a real family affair, in many ways and on many
levels. I first became aware of the great singer Ian Shaw about
five years ago through our mutual friend, the legendary pianist
/ composer Cedar Walton, for whom Ian Shaw had worked as an
opening act on several occasions at London's premier jazz club,
Ronnie Scott's. As we all should know, Cedar has the highest
possible standards of musical excellence, and he called me up
one day to mention that "there was this fantastic jazz
singer in London" with whom he "was very interested
in recording at some time in the near
future." After listening to a
few of Ian's more recent recordings, I was quite surprised
to hear not only one of the best jazz singers that I
had ever heard in my life, but also a musical artist
of great depth and stylistic breadth. Within a year
after the nod from Lord Walton, I produced our first
recording together, IN A NEW YORK MINUTE, featuring
both Ian Shaw and Cedar Walton, for Milestone Records.
Two years later, we recorded our second album, SOHO
STORIES, which featured pianist James Pearson, trumpeter
Lew Soloff, guitarist Joe Beck, among others. Both these
two first Milestone recordings were critically acclaimed
and featured quite a few standards from the Great American
songbook.
JUST
THE FACTS:
Reviews: The Los Angeles Times said "with
or without competition the qualities of Shaw’s singing
are first rate"
Accomplishments: Nominated two years running for Best
Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards
Collaborators:
Claire Martin, Guy Barker, Mari Wilson, Ruby Turner, Kenny
Wheeler, John Taylor, Iain Ballamy, Mornington Lockett, Sarah
Jane Morris, Tim Whitehead, Carol Grimes, Lol Coxhill, Phil
Minton and Veryan Weston, Elton Dean, Fayaaz Virjii and Tony
Remy (Jazz Warriors), Gail Thompson, Cleo Lain, John Dankworth,
Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Joe Beck, Papa Vasquez, Lew Soloff,
David Williams, Judi Silvano, Geoffrey Williams, Bobby Hutcherson
and Ray Brown.
Stage Work: In 2002 Shaw performed in "Jerry Springer,
the Opera", by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee. Thomas
created the part of the warm-up man/devil for Shaw. Artist Link: Ian
Shaw
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