Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - First Class (2022) [Hi-Res]

BIOGRAPHY
"A true new talent, shining right here..."
- Ian Shaw
"Her voice and everything else that comes with the package of a master vocalist is pure soul, swing and fire!"
- Leroy Jones
Louise Balkwill is a jazz singer living and performing in London. She was born in Tooting and grew up in Leicester, where she was encouraged and inspired her to pursue her love of music from an early age. Born into a family of musicians, Louise has never been short of inspiration and was raised as a multi-instrumentalist before turning her talents to singing at the age of 16.

Louise formed her first jazz ensemble at the age of 17 and later obtained a scholarship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She was awarded the Vivian Prindl Outreach Prize in 2017 in recognition of her projects of international acclaim.
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Since moving to London in September 2012, Louise has had the pleasure of learning from and working with musicians such as Leroy Jones, Barry Harris, Pete Churchill, Trudy Kerr, Brigette Beraha, Malcolm Earle-Smith, Ofer Landsberg, Simon Purcell, Liane Carroll, Sophie Bancroft, Sara Colman, Barry Green, Tina May, Nia Lynn, Anita Wardell, Nick Weldon, Martin Speake and Phil Peskett.
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Louise has performed in top venues all over London, such as Pizza Express Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, 606 Club, The Archduke, Charlie Wright's and Oliver's Jazz Bar to name a few. In addition to her UK ventures, Louise has performed overseas and has won the hearts of audiences in New York, New Orleans, Japan and all over Europe alongside household names such as Kermit Ruffins, Leroy Jones and Michael Kanan. She has recently been chosen to represent the UK in the Riga Jazz Stage Contest in 2021​​
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An avid composer, arranger and lyricist, Louise has worked with the likes of legendary trumpeter Leroy Jones among other internationally critically acclaimed artists and bands.
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​Named by multi-award-winning singer Liane Carroll as a singer to listen out for.
"If the 606 seems miraculously and unusually flooded with light in these pictures, then that must be something to do the combination of Trevor Clifford's artistry as a photographer... and Louise Balkwill's character."
- Sebastian Scotney, London Jazz News, 2018

1.01 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Shake It But Don't Break It (5:22)
1.02 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - When You're Smiling (3:05)
1.03 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Mood Indigo (4:57)
1.04 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Down For Double (feat. Joe Fenning) (2:32)
1.05 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Red Top (4:12)
1.06 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - The Preacher (feat. Tom Olsen) (5:01)
1.07 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - I'll Be Seeing You (feat. Joe Fenning) (2:39)
1.08 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - On The Sunny Side Of The Street (4:52)
1.09 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Pennies From Heaven (4:30)
1.10 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Go Fly A Kite (feat. Gustavo Clayton-Marucci) (4:01)
1.11 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Stardust (5:22)
1.12 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - I'll Fly Away (3:51)
1.13 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - Long John Blues (5:09)
1.14 - Louise Balkwill and The Mailmen - I'm Your Mailman (feat. Lewis Taylor) (3:29)