Elizabeth Shepherd is a Toronto-based singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer. Along with artists like Esperanza Spalding and Jose James, she is often credited with invigorating and reinventing the jazz song and bringing jazz influenced music to a younger audience. Real Detroit Weekly has called her "a jazz virtuoso blessed with a pop sensibility"[1] while The London Evening Standard has described her as an "insightful singer/songwriter of evident talent and originality".[2]
Shepherd arrived on the international jazz scene with a bang when her debut album Start to Move was voted among the Top 3 jazz albums of 2006 by the listeners of The Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio 1. This collection of mostly original material was nominated for a Juno award (Canada's Grammy equivalent) in 2007. Shepherd's second album Parkdale, released in May 2008, deals sympathetically with its Toronto neighbourhood namesake, which is known for its grit. The album, produced by London-based producer/DJ Nostalgia 77, was also nominated for a Juno award in 2009.
Shepherd's most recent release, Heavy Falls the Night (2010) features only one cover song: a supremely soulful reworking of the 70s soft-rock radio staple "Danny's Song". Shepherd produced the album herself, with the exception of the first single "Seven Bucks", which was co-produced by Japanese DJ Mitsu the Beats and climbed up to #37 on the "Tokio Hot 100" chart. The record was praised by jazz and pop critics alike, and was long listed for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize, Canada's most prestigious popular music prize.[3]
Contents |
Raised by ministers of the Salvation Army, Shepherd had early exposure to choirs and brass bands. Trained extensively in conservatories, Shepherd completed a degree in jazz piano from McGill University. She initially entered the music program to pursue a career in music therapy, turning later to songwriting and performing. She returned to Toronto in 2004 and worked as a server at a piano bar. She became the restaurant’s key entertainer and formed a trio with Scott Kemp on bass and Colin Kingsmore on drums.[4]
Shepherd has sold out legendary jazz clubs across the world, from Tokyo's Cotton Club to Detroit's Cliff Bell's. She has also appeared at festivals on both sides of the Atlantic, including Montreal Jazz Festival and the North Seas Jazz Festival. In 2009, she was personally invited by British souljazz star Jamie Cullum to open for him at a sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl.
Shepherd has appeared and performed live on many radio shows, including The Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio 1 (UK), J-Wave's Modaista (Japan) and Q with Jian Ghomeshi on CBC Radio (Canada).