Popular jazz artist performing at Seer Green (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Popular jazz artist performing at Seer Green

2:10pm Friday 5th March 2010 in

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A RECOGNISABLE jazz artist from Amersham is swapping major jazz venues across the country for Seer Green Hall to raise money for the Roald Dahl Foundation.

Kathleen Willison who is a jazz singing teacher at the Royal Academy of Music in London has been singing jazz since the age of 13.

She has worked with the likes of saxophonist Tim White and pianist Gwilym Simcock who is a BBC Radio 3 new generation artist and winner of BBC jazz awards Rising Star category.

They recorded a album called Close to You together in 2004 which got air time on BBC Radio 2, jazz FM and USA radio.

Willison said she became interested in jazz as both of her parents are musicians. She said: “Both my parents are musical. My mum is a real jazz lover and ever since I was in the womb she was playing Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra to me.

“It must have got in somehow! When I was eight I was sure I was going to be an opera singer. Then I decided I didn't want to do that as I couldn't improvise.”

She joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra when she was 13 and after studying at Beaconsfield High School went to the Royal Academy of Music to study jazz singing.

She now lives in Amersham with husband, David Williamson and two children, aged two and four.

Husband David is a trombone player and he is currently touring with Mumford and Sons and toured with Blur in the summer.

The charity fundraiser in Seer Green will be an evening of music by Ella Fitzgerald by the Kathleen Willison Jazz Quartet which includes John Turville on piano, double bass player Oli Hayhurst and drummer Chris Higginbottom.

Willison added: “It is going to be a a really fun evening and it is for a good cause. Of course any one with children is going to appreciate the Roald Dahl Foundation.”

The foundation has a simple aim: To use their funds to help children and young people in practical ways and in the areas that were particularly important to Roald Dahl during his lifetime: haematology and neurology. On Saturday March 13 Kathleen will be singing The Music of Ella Fitzgerald at Seer Green Jubilee Hall in School Lane, in aid of the Roald Dahl Foundation. Tickets cost £20 and includes a light supper. Starts at 8pm- doors open 7.30pm. For tickets, please contact Sarah Edwards, Roald Dahl Foundation, at sarahedwards@roalddahl.com or call 01494 891757.

Go to www.kathleenwillison.com for more details.