Helen Adamson

Helen started singing in the 80s in the Northern Clubs , this was a great apprenticeship into the Music Business. At 17 she was discovered by Jazz Legends Stan Barker and Digby Fairweather and participated in many gigs with them in the North West including Southport Arts Centre, various schools assisting with Jazz College ,(Jazz workshops set up by Stan and Digby). She also recorded live sets for Radio Lancs and Radio Merseyside. At 18 Helen (nee Sorrell) auditioned for singer with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and got the job. She toured with them for 2 years working in all the Major Theatres in The UK and abroad, including a Royal Command Performance at The London Palladium in the presence of Princess Diana, the Barbican centre and the Royal Festival Hall with classical guitarist John Williams. Also many other tours with artists such as Buddy Grecco ,Peggy Lee, Roberta Flack, Vic Damone, Jimmy Witherspoon and Astrud Gilberto. Heralded as the New Cleo Laine by Jazz Journal and The Stage, and described as having the vocal tones of Sarah Vaughan, Helen recorded a track with NYJO that became radio 2s record of the week. Also during this time with NYJO Helen appeared on Television and Radio nationally and internationally. Helen graduated from The Sandown College of performing Arts in Livepool with a Graduate Diploma in Music .Then toured with her own Jazz Quintet feeling most comfortable with small bands. Since then her work has been diverse from touring with Rock Bands, Session Singing , Jazz ,Big Bands, Soul, Gospel, ambient dance, Acid Jazz. This page and its songs are dedicated to Stan Barker my jazz mentor. He was the kindest and most altruistic gentleman of jazz. He is greatly missed...