About Liz
Born in Kingston Upon Thames into a musical family (her parents were singers, her stepfather a saxophonist). Liz has performed all over Europe, the Far East and USA.
Influenced by Peggy Lee and Julie London with a love for Ella and Chet Bakers’ phrasing, and a passion for Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, the Crusaders and many of the early fusion bands, Liz developed her own style. She has recorded three solo albums to date - Mellow Mania - Liz Fletcher Live In The Park and Blue Afternoons that were collaborations with the song-writer, Rupert Wates. Two cd’s with music composed by world class saxophonist Alan Barnes and lyrics by British playwright Alan Plater. Liz’s voice is featured on many other recordings. Check recordings page for sound bites.
Liz has performed in Jazz Clubs and Festivals such as Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Festival Hall, The Purcell Rooms, Pizza On The Park, The 606 Club, Wavendon, Glastonbury, The Big Green Gathering, Ealing Jazz Festival, Southport Jazz Festival, Swanage Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Zoetermeer Jazz Festival Holland; working with some of Britain’s most respected musicians – Robin Aspland, Alan Barnes, Tony Coe, Jim Mullen, Andy Panayi, Marc Parnell, Julian Siegel, Matt Wates, Gareth Williams and many more.
Liz has been involved with various contemporary projects: Supported Nina Simone at Festival in Greece with World/Dubtronica band Loop Guru.- Recorded with ‘45 Dip’ where she co-wrote the successful Trip Hop track “Lizzie’s Balloon”, Recorded vocals on Montana Rusa Album with Latin/House band ‘Los Ladrones’ written and produced by Composer Chris Bemand as with Phil Parnell on his electronica album “Do your living in the night" from which the single “Run Away” with vocals by Liz was released in May 2003.
The song was highly acclaimed by Radio 1 DJ Giles Peterson and Mr Scruff and was well received in the USA, Germany, France, Canada and Ireland.
In 2004 Liz had the privilege to be asked to record an album written by world-class saxophonist Alan Barnes and the highly acclaimed British play-write Alan Plater called ‘Songs For Unsung Heros’. This was followed by a second album, ‘The Seven Ages Of Jazz’ in 2006. “Never have I learned so much and laughed so much as when working these two extraordinarily talented men. I am forever grateful”.
2006 found Liz involved in a writing project with Mobo award winner, Ceri ‘Sunship’ Evans, the pianist and founder member of the ‘The Brand New Heavies’ who was one of the musicians she began her jazz singing career with.
In between gigs and festivals around the UK, 2007 saw Liz working with documentary film maker Oliver Hodge and composer Patrick Wilson. She wrote and performed the lyric to a tune which was translated into Spanish and used in the prize winning film, Garbage Warrior. Liz’s voice can also be heard on other tracks in the film.
In 2012, Liz set up her own recording label called AudioLoob on which she released the album simply entitled ‘Liz’. This project was an opportunity for her to include recordings of some self penned songs and show off her skills as a producer. Arrangements: Liz Fletcher, Rob Barron, Alex Garnett, Geoff Gascoyne, Andy Panayi and Gareth Williams. Musicians playing with Liz are Sebastian De Krom Drums, Geoff Gascoyne Bass, Gunther Kurmayr piano, Andy Panayi Sax and Flute, Martin Shaw Trumpet.
Simon Thorpe, director and bass player of the highly acclaimed, Jiving Miss Daisy band, asked Liz to join as principle singer in 2013 which has led to many gigs and a lot of fun touring around the country and in London at venues such as Ronnie Scotts, The Ivy, The Cafe Royal, The Birmingham Rep and more.
Director of The Jazz Repertory Company, Richard Pite invited Liz to put together a show of Nina Simone songs and in May 2015 Liz performed this show at Cadogan Hall with Nigel Price, Christian Vaughan, Julie Walkington and Richard Pite. The show was a great success and has been performed at Canary Wharf Boisdale. A video recording of this show will be added soon.
Whilst enjoying her regular gigs at Boisdale Belgravia, gigging with Jiving Miss Daisy and many of London’s top musicians in clubs, bars, restaurants etc Liz has been working on some new ideas for an EP with her long standing friend and musical partner, producer, Chris Bemand. In July 2014 they tried out the new material at the ‘Give’ festival where it was very well received and in August 2015 at the Ealing Jazz Festival Liz performed the same show with great success. “It was amazing to see so many people out of their seats dancing!”. An EP release is planned for early 2016.