Lyrical storytelling jazz chanteuse
Ruthie Culver
launches her debut album
Refashioned
(Purring Records; PURRCD002)
at
Pizza Express Jazz Club
10 Dean Street, London W1
Box Office: 08456 027 017; Tickets: £20; Time: 8pm
on
Tuesday 30 September 2008

An intriguing cross between Peggy Lee and Ute Lemper
Birmingham Jazz Festival

A delight… a voice you’ll hear more of, I guarantee
Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3’s In Tune

Refashioned is the debut album from jazz vocalist Ruthie Culver, a young woman currently carving a niche for herself with her engaging, passionate performances and intriguing repertoire. With styles ranging from chill-out funk and bossa nova to tango nuevo, and drawing on European cabaret songs as well as jazz and latin standards, Refashioned is the perfect introduction to Ruthie’s sophisticated eclecticism, as enjoyed by audiences at her live shows.

Backed by her regular band, led by double bassist Jonny Gee, Refashioned also features special guests including Italian trumpeter Fulvio Sigurta and legendary Columbian salsa percussionist Roberto Pla.

The title of the album refers not only to the nature of jazz itself, but also to the central, self-penned tune, The Perfect Dress, Ruthie’s take on ethical shopping, which begins as Cole Porter-style swing, and warps into a twisted African bembe as the lyrics darken. Ruthie has been dubbed ’the thinking person’s jazz singer’ and, reflecting her interest in socio-political issues, she’s included two Weimar Republic numbers - Munchhausen and To A Little Radio – on the album, alongside more mainstream jazz such as Mean to Me.

Ruthie studied jazz whilst working for various social/environmental charities as an event manager (including a forest-opening party hosted by the Queen, a dinner cooked by Jamie Oliver, employment-fairs in prisons and sponsored walks raising over £1million for HIV/AIDS). She carries her convictions into her music: top eco-fashion house Junky Styling created the dress Ruthie wears on the album cover; the album itself was recorded in Europe’s first solar-powered studio, and the CD’s digi pack casing is printed with vegetable inks on recycled cardboard. In recent years Ruthie has appeared regularly at Soho’s Pizza Express Jazz Club and Pizza on the Park, as well as at jazz festivals and venues across the UK and as far afield as New Zealand. She has also performed by special invitation at Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball, and at 10 Downing Street.

It’s no surprise that Ruthie eschews the usual jazz singer trajectory - as witnessed by the way Refashioned moves effortlessly from Edith Piaf to Astor Piazzolla (via Grace Jones), and from Cole Porter to Bertolt Brecht – indeed her next project involves creating jazz versions of 20th century classical English Song.

Refashioned is released on Monday 29 September 2008, distributed by Proper Access

Ruthie Culver is available for interview/sessions
CDs and pics are available on request

myspace.com/ruthieculver
ruthieculver.com

press enquiries to: Helen Maleed

tel/fax: 020 7732 4624 mobile: 07986 235 855

email: helen@greendesk.demon.co.uk
 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE - July 2008

 

 

Click to view

Mail on Sunday

YOU Magazine

feature - Aug 08