Jill Saward (singer)

Jill Saward

Saward performing in Wuppertal, Germany (2014)
Background information
Born (1953-12-09) 9 December 1953
London, England
Genres Jazz, funk, pop
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocal, flute, percussion
Years active 1969-active
Labels Secret Records
Website Official website
External video
Shakatak - Invitations: Do#Dj International Jazz Festival, April 22, 2008, Kyiv - Ukraine.. date July 12, 2012, Youtube (public video-sharing website

Jill Saward (born 9 December 1953) is a British singer, musician and composer, best known for being the lead voice of the English jazz-funk band of Shakatak.

Career

She began her musical career at the age of 16, with the British progressive jazz rock band Fusion Orchestra, from 1969 to 1972, dominating the English club scene at that time.

Jill Saward and the Fusion Orchestra gained a following of fans who secured a record deal with EMI music to produce their first album Skeleton in Armour, an album that immediately received critical acclaim upon its debut, and is now considered a collector's item which is highly sought after.

After the band Fusion Orchestra split, Saward became involved in a new all female group, called Brandy. The band, produced by Polydor, was active for about three years in the UK and Europe, before disbanding in 1976.

Saward was spotted later by the band leader Nicky North who invited her to perform in the 'Cats Whiskers' with his own big soul funk band. She also made a name for herself as one of the UK's session singers at that time. Saward also had a brief stint with a musical group of all women, called Citizen Gang, built by a French manufacturer of Orpheus Productions, and still managed to collaborate with the Nicky North Band. It was in this period she met band, Nigel Wright and Roger Odell, who are still components of jazz-funk band Shakatak.

It was through them that Saward was able to record some vocals on an experimental track of a song called "Steppin", and after nine top ten hits Saward was invited to be a permanent part of the group and started to tour worldwide.

Saward in 2014 in concert with Shakatak

She became the leading voice of Shakatak sharing success for more than 35 years. The band is still touring and recording and still popular around the world, especially in Europe and the Far East. They usually publishe a new album every two years for JVC Records and Secret Records.

Despite constant touring and recording, Saward has always managed to find time to develop new projects, and still continues to write and record new material.

Discography

Jill Saward (solo albums)

Jill Saward: all lead and BV voices
Jason Rebello, Neil Drinkwater, and Chris Ingham: keyboards
Snake Davis, Aaron Liddard, Matt Sibley, Derek Nash: saxophone
Fridrik Karlson: guitar
George Anderson: bass
Jill Saward: lead voice
Aaron Liddard: saxophone
Chris Ingham: keyboard
Chris Johnson: vocals
George Anderson: bass
James Saward Anderson: vocals
Mornington Lockett: saxophone
Patrick Hartley: trombone
Roberto Tola: guitar
Simon Allen: saxophone
Steve Dee: bass
Teresa Green: backing vocals

With Fusion Orchestra

With Brandy

With Citizen Gang

Albums

Saward in 2014

Compilation albums

With Shakatak in 2014
On stage in 2014

Singles

Year Single UK Singles Chart[1]
1980 "Steppin'" —
"Feels Like the Right Time" 41
1981 "Living in the UK" 52
"Brazilian Dawn" 48
"Easier Said Than Done" 12
1982 "Night Birds" 9
"Streetwalkin'" 38
"Invitations" 24
"Stranger" 43
1983 "Dark is the Night" 15
"If You Could See Me Now" 49
"Out of This World" 83
1984 "Down on the Street" 9
"Don't Blame It on Love" 55
1985 "City Rhythm" 76
"Day by Day" (with Al Jarreau) 53
1987 "Something Special" —
"Mr. Manic and Sister Cool" 56
1988 "Dr. Dr." —
"Time of My life" —
1989 "Turn the Music Up" —
"Back to the Groove" —
1991 "Bitter Sweet" —
1993 "One Day at a Time" —
1997 "Let the Piano Play" —
1998 "Move a Little Closer" —

Videos

References

[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 492. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ "Citizen Gang Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  3. ↑ "Jill Saward". Shakatak.com. 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  4. ↑ "Jill Saward". Smooth-jazz.de. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  5. ↑ "Jill Saward". Last.fm. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  6. ↑ "SHAKATAK Interview (Jill Saward & Bill Sharpe) 2003". YouTube. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  7. ↑ Gary Jackson. "Syndicated Radio Shows From Gary Jackson". Garyjacksonradio.com. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  8. ↑ Rachel Dickerson (2015-05-29). "Interview: Shakatak gear up for Purley Festival headline slot (From Your Local Guardian)". Yourlocalguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
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