Meet the Belles
Heather Simmons
As well as being the founder of the Swinging Belles, Heather has a successful solo career. She has her own band which have recently released their album 'I'm Old Fashioned' It has already had rave reviews on Radio 2, BBC Essex Radio and Smooth FM. As Humphrey Lyttelton put it "It was with a frisson of pleasure that I dipped into a cd by Heather Simmons and heard a voice with a refreshing and original tang."
You will find Heather performing in jazz clubs, restaurants, hotels, festivals and casinos. Most recently she has been asked to guest with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Harry Strutters Band, John Sutton's London Hot Rhythm Boys and with Humphrey Lyttelton's band. Heather has sung in Preservation Hall in New Orleans and some of the famous jazz clubs of New York. All of which were a tremendous honour that she hopes to repeat in the near future.
BBC Essex Radio's presenter Liz Mullen interviewed Heather as her guest on 'Everything Stops For Tea'. Liz played a couple of tracks from the new album including My Clock Is Tickin' which was written by Heather and arranged by Dave Cooke for the Swinging Belles.
If you would like to read more about Heather's career please visit my personal website at: Heather's full biog.
Debbie Bines
In addition to being a Swinging Belle, Debbie demonstrates her versatility by singing lead in a 9 piece soul band Diaz They perform at many large venues and functions across the country. Debbie is also currently singing backing with an exciting new band, Reilly Peacock who describe themselves as a quintessentially English band with a wide set of influences ranging from quirky Ziggy Stardust, to Tilbrooke / Difford and Albern to the ethereal Brian Wilson.
Debbie has worked with Dave Cooke previously in a piano and vocal duo, mixing powerful up tempo numbers with beautiful ballads and duets at weddings, parties and restaurants and casinos.
Over the years, being a jobbing vocalist Debbie has sung in theatre as well as backing on various albums and has also recorded voice overs and can be heard anonymously via tanoys up and down the country. Listing her influences as ranging from the 1960? up to the noughties, Debbie is enjoying the freshness of the era from which the Swinging Belles draws its repertoire.
Clare Foster
"There's a singer, who we say in the trade has paid her dues. Born in England, she's done the studying and the working in New York, in London, in Canada and places as far flung as Thailand and Singapore. She's now back in London gigging and teaching. Still awaiting the wide recognition that her talents undoubtedly deserve and I hope will receive very soon. There must be some justice in the musical world." - Humphrey Lyttelton on BBC Radio 2's Best of Jazz
Born in England on March 2nd 1968. Clare was introduced to Jazz by her father at the age of 5. He played her early recordings of artists like Bessie Smith and Bix Beiderbecke. Clare became more interested in jazz at the age of ten, when she was given a Fats Waller album by her mother and played it every day. By thirteen, she was playing the clarinet and vocalizing melodies. With saved pocket money she bought her first jazz vocal Hoagy Carmichael album. During her teenage years Clare concentrated on her clarinet, vocal and acting skills.
She had a desperate yearning to go to New York and New Orleans. In 1988 she made the move to New York, where she stayed for a year. It was here that she attended the workshops of Barry Harris, building up a large repertoire of songs, and performing them. Clare then went on to study and live with Judy Niemack, the highly acclaimed American vocalist. Judy was a very positive influence on the development of Clare's vocal technique and direction, greatly encouraging her potential. During this period Clare decided to make her first demo jazz recording with a very fine pianist called John Campbell, who at the time was Mel Tormé's pianist. It wasn't long before she made her New York debut, performing at the 55 Bar in Christopher Street.
In 1989, Clare returned to England and went to live in London. In 1990 she completed the one year Jazz Diploma Course at the Guildhall School of Music in London. She performed regularly at many venues in and around London, including Ronnie Scott's (with Randy Brecker and Steve Williamson), Pizza on the Park, The Bass Clef and The Royal Festival Hall. Clare decided after a visit to the Netherlands that she would try her musical career there.
Between 1991 and 1996, Clare was based in Amsterdam, Holland. Together with radio and television work, she performed in numerous venues including the prestigious Bimhuis. During her stay in Amsterdam she worked all around Holland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Asia, including Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.
In 1993, Clare recorded her first CD, Clare Foster Sings Wayne Shorter, on the Dutch record label Groove. When released, it received excellent reviews and was voted CD of the month on Euro Jazz Radio. It was here that Clare put lyrics to eleven of Wayne Shorter's compositions.
In March 1997, Clare left Holland to live in Toronto, Canada. She worked extensively with some of Canada's finest musicians including several performances at the Top O'the Senator and The Montreal Bistro with the American jazz guitarist Mark Whitfield.
In 1998, Japanese American guitarist Ryo Kawasaki (Elvin Jones) invited Clare to New York as featured artist, lyricist and vocalist for the album "Cosmic Rhythm", followed by gigs at Birdland and the Knitting Factory.
Clare returned to England in 1999 and began touring extensively in and around London including further appearances at Ronnie Scott’s.
Musicians who regularly perform with the Swinging Belles
Tim Huskisson, Martin Wheatley, John Sutton, Mike Piggott, Jerome Davies, Enrico Tomasso, Keith Nichols, Pete Long Orchestra, Richard Pite, Paul Higgs, Ted Beament.
