Daniela Clynes
Daniela Clynes is British vocalist and has worked extensively as a jazz and cabaret singer, leading various bands since completing the Guildhall School of Music post graduate jazz course, in the early 1990s. Her first quintet formed with saxophonist, Martin Hathaway led to a songwriting collaboration, with Clynes providing lyrics to Martins original compositions. She also formed a ten piece fusion group with trumpeter Noel Langley and pianist Peter Churchill called "Calumet", (including Roger Beaujolais-vibes, Ralph Salmins-drums, Pete Eckford-percussion) for performances at the Barbican Centre, London UK.
During these early years in her career, Clynes made appearances as guest soloist with the Michael Garrick Ensemble, Eclectic Voices, and the London Jazz Orchestra.
A cabaret-based band was formed with Noel Langley for dates at the Pizza on the Park, London, where Clynes has performed regularly to full houses since 1995. In Jan/Feb 1999 Clynes's first 'live' album was recorded at this venue, featuring the unique talents of pianist Liam Noble, bass player Geoff Gascoyne and drummer Clark Tracey.
An invitation to take part in a three week workshop with other performers from various stylistic backgrounds; led to Clynes originating the role of the 'American Wife' in the opera "Hotel", written by award winning playwright Caryl Churchill and composer Orlando Gough. This Second Stride production, directed by Ian Spink, toured England and Germany in 1996 and 1997.
A year later, Orlando Gough and Richard Chew created an eighteen piece a' capella vocal group "The Shout", of which Clynes was an original member, alongside names such as Ian Shaw, Carol Grimes, Melanie Pappenheim, Wayne Ellington, and Manikam Yogeswara .
Clynes remained with The Shout through hugely successful seasons at London venues - the Drill Hall, BAC, Purcell Room, the National Portrait Gallery & the Roundhouse plus national tours and radio & television broadcasts. Their debut album, "Arrival" was released in 2001.
Clynes created her first one woman show, "Childsplay", which ran at the Canal Cafe Theatre during the summer of '95; and the theatre subsequently asked her to create a Christmas show later that year.
Her most recent one woman show, "Journey", is based on the true story of a woman's life from surviving the Warsaw Ghetto escaping to Israel in 1950, and moving to England to begin a 'third life' in 1960. It features James Pearson (piano) and Sam Burgess (bass); and is a combination of the structural storytelling of theatre with the spontaneous creativity of jazz. Premiered at the Pizza on the Park at the end of 2000, the show moved to the Kings Head Theatre, Islington in July 2001 where it was filmed.
Her Jazz collaborations include lyric writing for compositions by UK musicians /composers Django Bates & Iain Ballamy, Martin Hathaway, Anita Wardell and American guitarist, Ron Affif.
In 2000, Clynes formed a quartet with Jonathan Gee (piano), Sam Burgess (bass) & Clark Tracey (drums) for a performance at the London Jazz Festival. The quartet then recorded Clynes's first studio album 'Gentle Persuasion' in 2001.
Clynes then flew to the USA for recording sessions to add horns and percussion tracks from some of New York's finest musicians – Clark Gayton (trombone), Kenny Rampton (trumpet), Jay Collins (sax) and Eddie Bobe (Latin percussion). The resulting album, "Gentle Persuasion" is out on new, independent label Mistress Music, and was launched at the 606 Club, London in 2003. Further acclaimed performances around London followed at Pizza Express Dean Street and the Vortex.
Clynes has been based in New York for the past three years; and in addition to performing there, also travels extensively to perform at venues in Europe and elsewhere. Currently living and performing in London, and presenting a regular programme of jazz on BBC Radio Kent, which can be heard online across the world.
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