Claudia Morris - Here's to Life (2017)

Claudia s fourth studio album is a collection of songs carefully selected over the last two years so that she may rise to the challenge of finding, not only great classics, but also songs which she could make her own. To complement Claudia s outstanding voice, the arrangements have come from the very talented Matthew Freeman, conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and pianist Liam Dunachie. She has also been fortunate to call on fantastic musicians to make the tracks what they are. As an acclaimed jazz vocalist and West End actress, Claudia has been thrilling audiences with her inimitable style showcasing a range of genres. Today she is one the finest and most expressive jazz singers in the UK. Claudia trained both as a classical actress at Webber Douglas Academy and as a singer with voice coach Ian Adams. Four years ago she collaborated with pianist and musical director Malcolm Edmonstone, and director and writer Phil Wilmott to create a new show singing and telling the story of Doris Day s life, with guest actors playing the parts of the men in her life. The show, named Secret Love, included some exciting new arrangements of Doris classic hit songs. Claudia toured the UK with this show for many dates over a period of two years. In February 2017 Claudia performed the Doris Day Songbook at the world-renowned Cadogan Hall in London to great acclaim. This differed to the original show in that there were no actors, but the Hollywood String Orchestra more than made up for it, turning the show into a spectacular concert. In her early career her theatre credits include appearing in the original cast of Buddy in the West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Claudia has also performed at The Royalty Theatre, Sadler s Wells, The Liverpool Playhouse and the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre. During a break in her singing and acting career to bring up her children, Claudia directed her creative energies into new arenas with success. Inspired by her daughter s severe food allergies, Claudia developed the first commercially successful allergy-free cake. Her creation was launched in Sainsbury's stores nationwide, awarded best product by the British Vegetarian Society and given extensive media coverage on Breakfast TV and BBC Radio 4 s Woman s Hour. Claudia also trained and practiced as an accredited psychotherapist. In 2009 she released her debut album Love and Demons. The success of the album prompted her to move into jazz, training with vocalist and singing coach Iain Mackenzie. This led to the creation of her second album Twelve O Clock Tales, which was play-listed by Jazz FM in 2012. In the same year, Claudia released the single Light Up My Life in aid of the charity Allergy UK, which was play-listed at BBC and independent radio stations nationwide. This was followed by her third album, Secret Love, a stunning collection of classic songs made famous by Doris Day. Claudia has gone on to perform live at top London venues including the Leicester Square Theatre, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Pheasantry, The Spice of Life, and The Troubadour. She will be appearing at Live at Zédel in Soho, London.