Polly Gibbons

Jazz vocalist of whom pianist Ian Shaw has said: 'This talent is one in a million...miss her gigs at your peril!'

Ian Shaw's career in performance began unusually for a jazz musician on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremner and Jo Brand.

Shaw was spotted by Dave Illic, jazz critic for City Limits and was described as 'the voice of the decade'. He has since gone on to win Best Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2004 and 2007, and has amassed a number of highly acclaimed albums.

A popular performer both in the UK and internationally, Ian Shaw is an incredibly colourful character and has been cited, along with Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling, as one of the world's finest male jazz vocalists.

'A high-class performance of timelessly high-class songs' (The Guardian)

'Praised far and wide as the single greatest male jazz vocalist Britain has to offer' (Jazz Times).

Photo: Tim Francis

A premiere British jazz vocalist who was voted Best Jazz Singer in 1995, Best Jazz Vocalist in 1997, and Most Promising Artist at the 1998 British Jazz Awards. She has won the BBC Jazz Awards five times.

Gracing stages across the world Imaani’s live career is impressive. She has performed in numerous prestigious venues such as Tokyo’s famous Blue Note club, Switzerland’s Montreaux Jazz Festival and New York’s The Filmore. She has performed on television, in the studio, and live with artists including Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan, Maceo Parker, Philip Bailey, Jimmy Cliff, UB40, Gloria Gaynor, Incognito, Betty Wright, Omar, Mica Paris, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Leon Ware and Aswad.

Featuring on no less than twelve albums by the celebrated Jazz Funk band Incognito including "Beneath The Surface", "Bees & Things & Flowers, 'Surreal', 'Amplified Soul' and the newly released ‘Tomorrow’s New Dream’ Imaani has become a long-standing favourite with the fans. As a long-term member of Incognito, she has also completed several world tours and continues to tour extensively with the band. Her emotive lead vocal contributions also appear on the Urban Species album "Blanket", Reel People’s ‘Seven ways to wonder’ album and Down to the Bone’s album 'The Main Ingredients'.

As a recording artist, Imaani’s success spans across genre’s. Her debut solo album 'Standing Tall' has been met with critical acclaim. It is a body of work that celebrates all of the styles of music that Imaani loves and combines them with strong hooks, soulful melodies and distinct production.