Jean Grunfeld - Out of the Blues (2000)

Jean is a British jazz vocalist who lives in London and has been singing for over twenty years. At the age of seventeen, Jean was listening to her parents' records and found herself captivated by Ella Fitzgerald - she has been hooked on jazz ever since. And many years later, when visiting Manhattan, NYC, she met the late Al Grey (trombonist with the Count Basie Band), who played with Ella Fitzgerald on many occasions. Jean sang with Al's band, and afterwards, Al told her, "You've got soul!" At nineteen she landed the job of solo female singer with the Bristol Big Band, and has been singing ever since with different-sized ensembles from big bands to duos.

Her influences range from Betty Carter to Dianne Reeves. Jean has attended the Wavendon Summer workshops directed by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, and the Guildhall Summer School, and in June 2002 she completed a certificate in Jazz and Pop Music at Goldsmiths College, London University, where she began to compose and arrange seriously. In September 2000, Jean released her first album into the shops nationwide. It is called "Out of the Blues" (33 Records), and features top British jazz trumpeter Guy Barker.

Both before and after the release date it was played on JazzFM, and the material further aired during a highly successful Jazz Services Tour in mid-2002. The album comprises standards by such composers as George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Jon Hendricks. Jean’s second album, "Bright Lights, Big City" (33 Records) was released in November 2003. It incorporates the blues, some funk, rock/pop and a scattering of jazz standards. Jean has written half the material herself. The band on this album is made up of British talent: Mornington Lockett on tenor saxophone, Dick Pearce on trumpet and a swinging rhythm section in the form of Barry Green on piano, Oli Hayhurst on bass and Mark Fletcher on drums.