This Scottish chanteuse has been described as a
"celtic Eve Cassidyâ€. Chantelles' love of vocal
improvisation lead her down a soul/funk/jazz route
in music.
Brought up in a rambling mansion by Pittenweem in Scotland, she maintains that having to shout to find her parents and brother in the house and grounds as a child is what gave her her powerful lungs and diaphragm. Thus, coupled with her parents playing very loud jazz and classical music (no neighbours!) every night and three pianos in the house, the seeds were sown for her career in music."I studied a graduate diploma in jazz & popular music at
Newcastle College of Arts & Technology, during which
time I sang in working mens clubs all over the North
East. With the college big band I won
the Blackfriars Young Jazz soloist of the Year title.
I left Newcastle to sing in a jazz band in Japan and
it was there that I taught myself to improvise.
I've never been a great fan of scatting so I use
more of a soul/gospel approach to make a song my
own.Leaving Japan, I went on to sing in
the Middle East and in New York with legendary bass player Ron McClure, before establishing myself on the London scene.With Galaxy f.m. DJ and producer, Wayne C. McDonald,
our cover of “One Day I’ll Fly Away†reached the 3rd
spot in the Blues and Soul Chart in 1994. This was
the start of many recordings and releases I have sung
over the years.I sing at festivals, parties, clubs & corporate events. I do
radio and television work and am currently writing and
recording my debut album - at glacial speed alas! I recently recorded my first soundtrack for a film, The Man From Earth (www.manfromearth.com).I am the lead singer in original band, Berakah (www.theberakahproject.org), and I have backed ABC, Alexander O'Neal, Jocelyn Brown, Kym Mazelle and Jelone. I sing with the "AllStars Collective" (www.myspace.com/theallstarscollective) and in the last year I was invited to join Clive Dunstalls Voxtet."“Fantastic....what a beautiful voice†Helen Mirren.
Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Black&table
