Jacqui Dankworth

Given her musical pedigree – daughter of Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth – it’s no surprise that Jacqui Dankworth is considered to be “one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing” (The Guardian). Her highly acclaimed recordings to date have been stylistically diverse, incorporating elements of folk, blues and many other forms that have also demonstrated her superb skill as an eclectic songwriter.

‘It Happens Quietly,’ her 2011 album on Proper Records’ subsidiary, Specific Jazz, showcases Jacqui at the top of her game, investing this collection of songs with superb technique and humanity. She’s ably assisted by superb musicians and by some of the loveliest and most creative arrangements to grace a jazz record for some time. There’s an element of poignancy too, as this album was the last work undertaken by Jacqui’s father before his death in 2010.

After an acting career that included stints with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and musicals, Dankworth released her first album, ‘As The Sun Shines Down On Me,’ in 2003. That same year, Dankworth guested on Courtney Pine’s album, ‘Devotion,’

This new-found attention brought her a guest appearance in the film, ‘Shoreditch,’ starring Joely Richardson and Shane Ritchie. Dankworth appeared in the opening shot singing the Billie Holiday number, ‘My Man’ and later sang ‘Body and Soul’ as a featured track.

Dankworth followed the success of ‘As The Sun Shines Down On Me’ with ‘Detour Ahead’ (2004) and ‘Back To You’ (2009).

With acknowledgement to Bruce Lindsay/Wikipedia