The Theory Of Joy

by Ian Shaw

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14 tracks in all

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD contains 12 tracks.

Includes unlimited streaming of The Theory Of Joy via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Small Day Tomorrow 03:15	buy track
2.	You Fascinate Me So 04:50	buy track
3.	In France They Kiss On Main Street 03:57	buy track
4.	Where Are We Now? 05:32	buy track
5.	Everything 03:07	buy track
6.	How Do You Keep The Music Playing 05:06	buy track
7.	(You've Got To) Pick A Pocket Or Two 03:26	buy track
8.	My Brother 04:34	buy track
9.	All This And Betty Too 02:43	buy track
10.	Somewhere Towards Love 04:23	buy track
11.	The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys 05:30	buy track
12.	If You Go Away / Ne Me Quitte Pas 03:17	buy track
13.	Born To Be Blue 02:42	buy track
14.	Last Man Alive 04:49	buy track

about

Ian Shaw - jazz singer, songwriter (plus stand-up comedian, radio presenter and producer!) - has returned to working with that classic jazz ensemble, the piano trio.

A frequent and accomplished solo performer, for this new recording Ian craved a bit of company, and what company he found… the outstanding pianist, Barry Green, legendary bassist, Mick Hutton and ace drummer, Dave Ohm, three of the UK’s very finest players.

The group has been performing an exciting set of brand new arrangements at festivals and club dates in the UK and Europe, including four recent sell-out shows at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Club. These finely honed new songs were then captured for this new release, The Theory Of Joy on Harmonia Mundi’s Jazz Village label. Recorded at Snap! Studios in North London in the summer of 2015, Ian was thrilled to have the world-renowned singer Claire Martin as his producer. The involvement of the visionary sound engineer Joe Leach on the project fulfilled another long-held wish.

The Theory Of Joy is exactly that: a collection of inspirational pop-structured songs, including extraordinary new takes on David Bowie, Lionel Bart, Jacques Brel, Joni Mitchell, Mel Tormé and even the seminal Traffic. The mood is hopeful, questioning, politicised, and honest.

As well as arranging all the material on the album Ian has also contributed three original compositions of his own, songs of happy musical memories, emotions and possibilities. All This And Betty Too recounts his early days with his great friend Claire Martin, in Ronnie Scott’s listening to Betty Carter. Somewhere Towards Love is a re-working of a song that featured on his Splash Point Records release of the same name and My Brother tells the story of Ian’s brother, Gareth (“the first baby”) who died before Ian was born.

A natural collaborator (Ian has worked, over the years, with countless varied artists including Quincy Jones, Abdullah Ibrahim, Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor, Georgie Fame, The BBC Big Band, the NDR and HR Big Bands in Germany, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Eddi Reader, Claire Martin, Guy Barker, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Van Morrison, Jon Hendricks, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Iain Ballamy, Sarah Jane Morris, Liane Carroll, Jamie Cullum, Madeline Bell, Eric Alexander, Arturo O’Farrill, Charlotte Church) this new album puts Shaw right back where he belongs - “Simply, our finest jazz singer” (Time Out).

credits

released February 12, 2016

Ian Shaw (vocals, piano track 12), Barry Green (piano), Mick Hutton (bass), Dave Ohm (drums).

Recorded at Snap! Studios, London, July-August 2015. Produced by Claire Martin. Engineered by Joe Leach.

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about

Ian Shaw London, UK

With 16 studio albums to his own name in a career spanning three decades, Ian Shaw is widely regarded as the best male jazz vocalist the UK has produced. He is also a talented pianist, song writer, presenter, record producer and actor. Alongside performances at the major London venues, Shaw tours throughout the UK and internationally. ... more