Claire Martin listings

At just 21, CLAIRE MARTIN formed her first quartet (featuring guitar-great Jim Mullen). Her break came when renowned Scottish jazz label Linn signed her in 1991, the start of a creative relationship that is still going strong today. Rightly acclaimed as the outstanding voice of her generation, Martin's 1992 debut The Waiting Game scored rave reviews and was chosen as a Times Album of the Year. Interestingly, the liner notes were written by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, co-star of Martin's 2005 album (a beautiful collection of outstanding songs featuring just the two of them). In 2007, Martin released an album which sees her recall the songs and spirit of the late and legendary Shirley Horn. Already being credited in many quarters as her finest recording to date, He Never Mentioned Love captures her in intimate and mature mode, paying tribute to her greatest musical influence. It led to widespread acclaim, with Observer Music Monthly saying "the complete jazz singer she's always threatened to be." She also performs regularly with Girl Talk (alongside Mari Wilson and Barb Jungr) and in duet with her close friend, Ian Shaw.