Jazz Singer Cate Cody

1920s & 1930s Vocal Jazz

Photo: Jane Murray

Biography

Whether swinging with her hot Jazz band 'The Salty Dogs', or singing ballads from the American songbook accompanied by a solo piano, Cate Cody is a very popular performer in restaurants and jazz festivals as well as weddings, parties and corporate work. Here's a few words from Cate:

Q: Why a jazz singer?

A: I have always, always loved singing, one time I was having fun with some friends when someone heard me sing, they said "you have a Jazz voice; that's what you should be singing."

Q: How did you follow this up?

A: I went to the local library, borrowed CDs of Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, (the only jazz singers I'd ever heard of). After a lot of listening, some uncertainty and a little persuading, I found myself singing Billie's version of Loverman; I never looked back.

Q: What style of jazz do you sing?

A: I like to sing a balance of well known favourites and rare classic jazz tunes. There are the 'greats' like Cole Porter, The Gershwin's and Hoagy Carmichael who I love, but I also think it's important to pursue the salvage of the less well known tunes and composers; some are almost lost to history. My repertoire has really been built up over the years with songs that I hear, fall in love with andhave to learn. There have also been some that I've learnt specifically as requests for weddings and have kept on singing afterwards. I always try to learn the verses; they are important introductions to the songs and are sadly often omitted.

Q: Who are your influences?

A: Billie Holiday remains my all time heroine, I just never tire of her voice, it's exquisitely brimming with emotion and passion. I'm also a huge fan of Peggy Lee, Mildred Bailey, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Julie London, Doris Day and many others.

Q: Who have you/do you work with?

A:Various bands for a while before I organised my 'Salty Dogs' who include greats such as reedman Norman Field and drummer Nick Ward. I have had the honour of working with distinguished pianists such as, Keith Nichols, Jonathan Vinten, Martin Litton and Julian Martin and have worked several times with Frans Sjostrom, almost certainly the world's finest Bass Saxophone player. I have recently been working a lot with the experienced and tasteful Mike Graver on Piano - we instantly seemed to have a thorough understanding of each other's technique and love the same songs (more on Mike>>>). I have also performed regularly as a guest singer with other bands including 'The Sticky Wicket Swing Band'.

Q: What type of work do you do locally?

A: All sorts, I love the variation which includes weddings, parties, festivals, restaurants, charity work, dances, even boat parties. That's the beauty of Jazz - it's so flexible, with a piano player just two of us can create a relaxing atmosphere for an afternoon wedding, or for Theatres, Corporate Functions and Festivals, the larger band (up to six piece) is more appropriate where the atmosphere needs to be more electric...

Q: What/Where are your favourite venues/types of gigs?

A: There are so many, I like the Greenway in Shurdington, the weddings there are always intimate and proficient and the staff particularly charming. Another favourite is the delightful Daffodil in Cheltenham, the atmosphere is always very relaxed and I'm sure the decor of the place adds to the quality of our music, it's even finer since it's re-design where the musicians are centrally placed on a stage. Naturally I enjoy the grandeur of singing in places such as Blenheim Palace; the libraries of Oxford University or at the Althorp Estate for the Earl Spencer. Of course the beautiful Cotswolds harbour many lovely villages, towns and houses where we play at functions; private, public and fund raising. We also perform at 'picnic suppers', where the community hires the village hall or perhaps in the summer, the grounds of the local manor, they hire the band, bring their picnics and dance the night away...

Q: Since you began singing jazz, how has your interest in the era developed?

A: I love to show the relevance of Jazz today. I devised two successful shows at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, the first was based on songs and snippets of social history for every year between 1914 and 1932 (e.g. 1916 - The first false eyelashes were used and 'Down In Honky Tonk Town' was written and in 1927, Heinz salad cream was produced and 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man' was written). The second show was devoted to all the aspects of love, setting the scene with 'I'm In The Mood for Love' gradually moving into revenge with 'Hard Hearted Hannah' and rounding up with the fun side of love and 'I Want To Be Bad.' That's what's so great about Jazz; it is estimated that about 300,000 'popular' songs were copyrighted between 1910 and 1950 so there's pretty much a song for everything. I really enjoy delving into the rich history behind the era, its songs and composers

Q: Where can we see you?

A: Most of our work is for private functions; weddings and parties etc, but we have regular bookings at the Daffodil in Cheltenham and a few bookings with the local Councils of Tewkesbury and Cheltenham. In addition, some of the Dances are open to all (non-dancers too) and tend to feature the larger band. Check the Dates page for the latest information, or better still Subscribe and upcoming performances will be e-mailed directly to you.

Mike Graver - Piano

The excellent Mike Graver has been handling most of the piano duties for the last year with Cate. Here's some information on Mike's extensive Jazz background:

"Mike began his musical career at the age of 5, demonstrating early talent by playing tunes 'by ear' on the piano. By the time he left school to live in London, he was already enjoying the music of the many bands broadcasting on the radio of which Ted Heath was one of his favourites. He was collecting records of 'Jazz greats' and soon began to be influenced by players such as George Shearing, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum and Dave Brubeck. The critical study of the masters through their recordings became a pattern of practise that has continued throughout the years. He soon began playing in pubs and clubs around the East End of London where the piano player was expected to be able to cope with any song a vocalist wanted and in whatever key they wanted to sing, which often turned out to be between the cracks in the piano keys!!

Royal Air Force service in the Middle East provided more opportunity to develop working with a jazz quartet, comprising of clarinet, piano, bass and drums. With so many RAF, Army, Navy and Civilian clubs, life was musically very busy and there were occasional opportunities to 'guest' with some of the Army Big Bands.

Back to London, further influences came from Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans and British pianist and composer Brian Dee. Brian comments "Since I have known Mike, there has been a continuous development in his playing and I feel he is now very much his own man musically".

During the nineties and into the new Millennium, Mike has been a valued and respected member of the acclaimed Tad Newton's Jazz Friends, where his elegant piano contributions have won him a host of admirers on the National and International Jazz scene, including major venues such as The Barbican, The Derngate Theatre, The 100 Club, Ronnie Scotts and numerous Jazz Festivals including Guernsey, Upton-on-Severn, Teignmouth and the Isle of Bute.

Tad sums up Mike's approach to playing jazz, saying, "His repertoire, improvisation, presentation, professionalism, musicality and enthusiasm reflect an elegance in Jazz that is laudable".

Mike has broadcast on BBC Radio, appeared on TV and has made a number of recordings in his own right as well as contributing to CDs of other bands.

Cate would like to add: "Mike is a real pleasure to work with. He listens so carefully, accompanying me responsively with exactly the right chords and tempos. He is one hundred percent reliable, good fun and a joy to sing with".