| Singer - Songwriter Laura Hassell |
 Laura Beth Hassell, one of Manchester's most impressive singer/ songwriter/ pianists kicked off 2007 with an appearance at New York's 'Iridium' Jazz Club on the 20th Jan by invitation of the club's owner, impressed by her performances earlier last year in the US. She is one of the most brilliant natural jazz performers I've ever had the pleasure of listening to...... - Scott Barbarino. Already an accomplished classical pianist by the age of 15, Laura has been songwriting since a teenager. She cites her own diverse musical tastes as including R&B, Jazz, Brazilian, Latin, Bulgarian, Indian, Klezmer and Classical music. However it was mainly Jazz and Latin styles that characterised her early career, under the tutelage of, 'gurus' Dane Chalfin in UK and Dave Stroud and Rocio Guitard ( San Francisco). She was a finalist in the 2001 Perrier Jazz Awards, performing at the 606 Club in London and more locally she has appeared 4 out of the last 5 years at the Manchester Jazz Festival in addition to the Wigan, Southport and North Wales Festivals. Laura has sung alongside Branford Marsalis, Lianne Carroll and Ian Shaw. Since focusing her career on her original songwriting, Laura's style has moved away from Jazz and into a more eclectic, popular and commercial style. Her original music is currently on the playlist of "The Jazz" radio station. Her first, and current CD of originals - "If I" - features wistful ballads, compelling Rhodes-based grooves and displays her undoubted musical talents, soulful nature and an honesty and reflectiveness in her lyrics. |