Brigitte Beraha

Biography

‘One of the most creative vocalists on the UK scene’ BBC Radio 3

‘Spontaneity, high-class jazz artistry’  The Guardian

A great exponent of the art of wordless vocal’  Kevin Le Gendre, J to Z

Brigitte Beraha, improvising vocalist and composer, is one of the leading talents on the UK jazz scene. Embracing a wide variety of influences and genres, Beraha’s sound is free and spontaneous with an emphasis on exploration, expression and fearlessly testing the limits of the voice as instrument. Alongside original contemporary jazz and the core jazz and latin repertoires, she is increasingly involved in exciting cross-genre projects, such as the recreation of Basil Kirchin’s music as part of Hull City of Culture 2017 or Raising Hell with Henry Purcell led by Ethan Iverson at Kings Place in 2018.

Beraha has recorded a number of critically acclaimed albums, both as leader and as part of collaborative projects such as Babelfish, Solstice and Red Skies Trio. The latest under her name, Lucid Dreamers, introduced a new electronic dimension to her work proving once more the agility, adventurous spirit and limitless imagination that have marked her out as a truly exciting and versatile artist with a huge range of experience and creative scope.

‘One of the most adventurous vocalists around, a musical explorer…’  The Jazzmann

‘Brigitte is someone who concentrates on the music’s core values: imagination, individuality, improvisation.’ Jazz Review
‘Possessed of Norma Winstone-like subtlety and precision.’ The Guardian

‘Beraha scats with a daydreaming quality that is both engaging and never distracting.’ John Fordham

Biography

Brigitte Beraha performs as both ‘sideman’ and as a leader in an ever-expanding range of projects, from straight ahead jazz, singing jazz standard songs with lyrics, to more contemporary outlets, using her voice as an instrument. Brigitte is now recognised as one of the most versatile and interesting vocalists to emerge on the UK jazz scene in the last decade. As well as performing and recording with many of the legends of the UK jazz scene, including Kenny Wheeler, Chris Laurence, Paul Clarvis, John Parricelli, Bobby Wellins and Henry Lowther she is closely involved in the work of the new generation of jazz musicians and in particular the Loop and E17 jazz collectives. Drawing comparisons with such luminaries as Norma Winstone and Tania Maria, she has forged her own, very individual voice. With four albums to her credit, her album Babelfish was picked by Sebastian Scotney, founder of LondonJazz, as one of his top three albums of 2012.