Carol Kidd MBE
Biography
Carol Kidd is acknowledged in jazz circles as ‘Britain's finest ballads singer' Jazz Review. She has secured the Best Vocalist title at the British Jazz Awards on four separate occasions and, in 1998, received the MBE for Services to Jazz.
Over a 25 year period, she has released seven studio albums and a ‘Best of...' compilation for Linn Records. In 2008, she has returned to the recording arena, following a seven year hiatus, with Dreamsville (AKD 325)- an exquisite album of hand-picked standards and self-penned songs which was ‘Recommended Release' on BBC Radio 2 (Russell Davies Show).
Kidd is renowned for her impeccable phrasing and delivery along with an innate ability to breathe fresh life into jazz standards. Dreamsville places a great singer, at the top of her form, back where she belongs - in the upper echelons of world class vocal jazz. Throughout her career, Kidd has cut a distinctive path through the Great American Songbook with orchestral and trio backing.
She is a singer who is admired by contemporaries and fans alike, who enjoys popularity in the Far East and has performed regularly in China and Singapore for over the course of three decades. Indeed, in 1994 she was the first western artist to be invited by the Chinese Government to perform there in 25 years.
Originally based in Glasgow, Carol Kidd began singing professionally at the age of 15 when she joined the West Coast Jazz Band. During a five year period she met, and married, their trombonist George Kidd, who is a formidable name in Scottish jazz circles. The band appeared along with many well known names such as Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and the Alex Welsh band, and also made guest appearances on local radio.
During the 1970s a musical association with the pianist Sandy Taylor developed. Along with drummer Murray Smith and bassist Alex Moore the trio remained the mainstay of her backing for many years.
Kidd's self-titled Linn Records debut album was released in 1984 and it marked the beginning of a long and valued relationship which has helped establish her across the globe.
Her signature song, ‘When I Dream', was the theme in Korean movie Shiri and it held a chart placing in Asia for some thirteen weeks. This led her to ‘superstar' status in a part of the world where she now regularly performs to sell-out audiences. She has also performed for the Cambodian Royal Family. Further Royal approval is confirmed in the shape of Prince Charles who is a proud owner of all her albums!
A long line of admirers included Frank Sinatra, who invited her to open for him at a concert at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. During his performance he commented, ‘Carol Kidd is the best kept secret of British jazz.' This endorsement from Ol' Blue Eyes gave Kidd the confidence to truly make singing her career.
Almost immediately she was invited to appear at the internationally acclaimed Ronnie Scott's Club in London. Tony Bennett was singing in London at the time and he made a point of coming to hear her stating, ‘You are world class, where have you been?'. Later, she went on to record ‘A Place in My Heart' with one of Sinatra's favourite arrangers, the late Robert Farnon.
The late Sir Humphrey Lyttelton was also a fan from early on, commenting on her first album saying, ‘If this her debut, it's fantastic.' Earlier, Annie Ross had invited Kidd to appear on her TV show, stating, ‘I love this woman's voice.'
George Shearing, Georgie Fame, Annie Ross, Benny Carter, Joe Temperley, Bobby Watson and Martin Taylor MBE are among the many guest luminaries who have performed with Carol Kidd during her live concerts.
Awards
Four times winner - Best Vocalist, British Jazz Awards
Best Vocalist - Scottish Jazz Awards 2011
Best Album - "Dreamsville", Scottish Jazz Awards 2009
Best Album - "The Night We Called it a Day", British Jazz Awards
Best International Vocalist, Cannes International Jazz Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award, 2007 Nordoff Robbins
1998 - MBE for Services to Jazz
"A throat kissed by angels" The Herald
"One of the best singers I have heard" Ronnie Scott
"Carol Kidd is the best kept secret of British jazz" Frank Sinatra
"Her control is thrilling....she is world class" Cleo Laine
"Her discography stands up as one of the strongest ever British contributions to vocal jazz" Jazz Review
"Dreamsville" is one of the most finely crafted collection of songs you'll hear this year" Jazzwise
Linn's 40th birthday celebrations19 February 2013
Celebrate Linn's 40th birthday with a look back at some of our top selling albums & artists.
more >>Carol Kidd wins 'Best Jazz Vocalist' award!08 July 2011
Carol Kidd wins at the 2011 Scottish Jazz Awards
more >>New Carol Kidd video10 June 2011
live in Glasgow
more >>Carol Kidd nominated for a Scottish Jazz Award!27 May 2011
Jazz Singer of the Year?
more >>The Scotsman Interview With Carol Kidd & Nigel Clark08 April 2011
The best kept secret in British jazz
more >>Nigel Clark discusses his new album with Carol Kidd04 April 2011
Tune in hear tracks from 'Tell Me Once Again'
more >>Carol Kidd triumphs at the Scottish Jazz Awards24 June 2009
'Best CD' for 'Dreamsville'
more >>Best CD nomination for Dreamsville06 May 2009
Scottish Jazz Award nomination
more >>Linn Jazz artists live in Scotland21 April 2009
Jazz International presents spring concerts
more >>
The Scotsman
'...when it's Carol Kidd's voice and Nigel Clark's guitar, the effect can be magical.'
more >>Edinburgh Evening News'Kidd's boldest departures, though, involved imaginative interpretations of the standards. Sweeping from a towering falsetto to hushed tones, Kidd delivered her evocative slow account of the Arlen and Koehler classic Stormy Weather over Clark's impromptu playing.'
more >>festivalreviews.com'Carol always communicates directly with the heart and in duo the intimacy is very powerful.'
more >>The Scotsman'...she can still bring a touch of class to ballads...'
more >>Herald Scotland
'Kidd was singing at the top of her game...'
more >>Jazz Matters'musical storytelling at its best'
more >>Northern Sky'...many-shaded vocals and seemingly innate sense of improvisation...'
more >>Bebop Spoken Here'...expressed with fresh spin from Carol's unique style.'
more >>In Tune International"[The album] joyfully reflects the best of both artistes."
more >>Jazzwise'...the duo finds the emotional heart of each song with unerring accuracy...'
more >>MusicWeb International"The plethora of young hopefuls trying to be jazz singers could learn a thing or two from Carol Kidd."
more >>LondonJazz"...an affecting programme of intelligently selected songs, flawlessly presented."
more >>The Observer
"...harmonically subtle, rhythmically firm, endlessly resourceful..."
more >>The Scotsman
"...impeccably played and beautifully judged..."
more >>Scotland on Sunday
"This is musical storytelling at its best..."
more >>The Herald'...delightful...'
more >>Jazz Rag'...knowledgeable jazz phrasing that validates everything this lady performs.'
more >>Record Collector
"Kidd proves that she knows her way around a song..."
more >>The Scotsman"...her vocals remain as exquisite as ever."
more >>The Herald
"A triumphant homecoming for one of Scotland's most underrated talents."
more >>Crescendo & Jazz Music"...she was real class."
more >>Singer's Singer - In Tune International"Ms. Kidd's vocal stands alone as one of the finest I have ever heard."
more >>The Times"Introspection is her forte..."
more >>The Scotsman"Carol Kidd brought the house down with authoritative ease..."
more >>The Herald"...surpassed all expectation..."
more >>Yorkshire PostSimply wonderful.
more >>Music Web InternationalHer vocals sound as natural as breathing.
more >>Burnley ExpressScottish jazz legend Carol Kidd is back in musical dreamland.
more >>Scotland on Sunday
Scottish jazz singer Carol Kidd makes a triumphant comeback with this gorgeous album.
more >>Sunday Herald
World-class.
more >>Sunday PostCD of the Week. This selection of songs old and new is a joy.
more >>The Herald
Kidd has made her finest album.
more >>The Vortex WebsiteManages to combine unsentimental intimacy with considerable musical intelligence
more >>The Scotsman
The singer is in excellent voice throughout
more >>Record Collector
She's on form on "Dreamsville".
more >>BBC WebsiteA faultless vocalist of impeccable stylistic credentials, and Linn a beacon of artist and audiophile quality for independent British labels.
more >>JazzwiseThe singer's golden timbre and legato phrasing serving interpretations that sweep you up in their tender embrace.
more >>LP MagazineEin Muss für jeden Jazzliebhaber. Ein Geheimtipp, der kein Geheimtipp bleiben darf!
more >>LP Magazine (Translation)A must for every jazz enthusiast.
more >>Hi-Fi WorldAn excellent recording on 180 gm vinyl
more >>LP - Magazine for Analogue and Vinyl CultureCarol Kidd proves her star potential.
more >>Sunday PostA joy for jazz fans everywhere.
more >>Music WebCarol Kidd is one of the finest female vocalists I have ever heard.
more >>In Tune InternationalThere's not a forgettable moment here. All are outstanding.
more >>Jazz RagMy advice is go out and buy all three records ... then go out again and buy everything else Carol has recorded.
more >>The Jazz Ragbuy everything Carol has recorded
more >>The Jazz RagCarol Kidd is my favourite singer
more >>Crescendo and Jazz MusicCarol Kidd is a class act
more >>Crescendo and Jazz MusicCarol Kidd is indeed an exceptional talent
more >>Sunday Times Culturea distinctive path through the Great American Songbook
more >>The ObserverCarol Kidd is Scotland's gift to the American song
more >>Yorkshire PostKidd needs no lessons on how to sell a song
more >>Crescendo & Jazz Musicliving and breathing readings of infinite depth and breadth
more >>Jazz ExpressHer phrasing, diction and delivery are impeccable.
more >>