In just a few years, Todd Gordon established himself as “one of Britain’s most popular singers and entertainers” (Scottish Television). He’d been an avid Beatles’ fan until the age of eleven when he first heard Sinatra. From then, he collected every album by Ol' Blue Eyes before broadening his interest in jazz and swing to encompass many other renowned singers and instrumentalists.
In 1975 he met Ella Fitzgerald prior to her show and, during the concert, she invited him on stage and sang specially to him. He was also fortunate in meeting many of his other idols, including Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Count Basie, Woody Herman, George Shearing and Tony Bennett.
Todd immersed himself in the Great American Songbook genre. His interest in music and singing was passionate, yet private. But in 2000, he participated in a week-long vocal jazz workshop and that changed everything. His first time on stage came in 2001 at Scotland’s top jazz club and, as the cliché goes, he's never looked back. In 2003, aged 44, he was booked to open for Dionne Warwick during her UK tour which prompted him to give up his 'day job' organizing trade expos.
Over the last six years, Todd has performed at many of the most prestigious venues, with frequent appearances at Britain’s top jazz venues, including Pizza Express Jazz Room, The 606 in Chelsea and the world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s. He’s performed at The Plaza and Algonquin hotels in New York – where he even did a duet with actor Christopher Walken, singing “I've Got You Under My Skin” – and also features in jazz festivals and concerts. He is the first-ever Scottish male jazz singer to have been booked for the London Jazz Festival with his gig at the Royal Opera House in 2007, and a sell-out return visit in 2009.
His audiences range from intimate jazz club settings to large-scale shows (he regularly compères and performs in “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” – Britain’s biggest jazz event with an audience of over 20,000) and he was also one of four nominees up for a national music award alongside Texas and Annie Lennox. Todd works with the very best British musicians including Alan Barnes, Alec Dankworth and Steve Brown, and has also performed with top US players such as Jay Leonhart, Ted Rosenthal, Joe Cohn, Nicki Parrott and Butch Miles.
He has recorded three albums with Ian Shaw in the producer’s chair: “Love’s Illusions” then “Ballads from The Midnight Hotel” (with Guy Barker and featuring a duet with Jacqui Dankworth). An album celebrating the work of the legendary American Songbook lyricist, Johnny Mercer, was his next project with the acclaimed Mel Tormé pianist, John Colianni.
A compilation CD, entitled “The Sunday Album” was next in line whilst his new album - “Made in Korea” - will be released in the spring of this year. It was recorded in Seoul following the success of one of his recordings being used as a theme song in a top-rating Korean TV drama series. Already, several songwriters have praised Todd’s interpretations of their songs, including the legendary Mike Stoller, the hugely successful Gilbert O’Sullivan, and the co-composer of Sinatra’s “Watertown” masterpiece, Jake Holmes.
Back in the UK, Todd’s passion for music continues with his new concert promotion business, Jazz International and Audacious Music, which presents a wide range of top artists at Scotland’s leading concert venues. And, from November, he starts presenting his new show on UK Jazz Radio - “The Singers & The Songbook.”
Todd’s concerts appeal to a wider audience than just jazz lovers; he has carefully crafted several crowd-pulling, and audience-pleasing concert themes, several of which have garnered 4- and 5-star reviews. These feature line-ups ranging from a top flight trio, to formats including the superb BBC Big Band and award-winning Back to Basie Orchestra. 2011 sees the launch of a new show celebrating the songs made famous by Tony Bennett plus an exciting project with the RAF Squadronaires Big Band. watch this space!
QUOTES ON TODD:
"Great performance!" - Dionne Warwick
"Todd's voice can really tell a story" - Jamie Cullum
"The consummate performer of the American songbook" - The Independent
"Doing it his way, Sinatra's ghost lives on in the work of one of his most polished admirers" - Clive Davis, The Times
"The words slip off his tongue drenched in charisma and class" - Rick Finlay, Jazz Review
"Very enjoyable. tender voice and wonderful selection of songs" - Elaine Stritch
"Todd sings with wonderful feeling and time" - Sheila Jordan
"Leader in his field, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Great American Songbook" - Scottish Television
"Spine-tingling stuff of the classic kind" - Sinatra Music Society
"An individual voice in the current entertainment scene awash with imitations" - In Tune International
"The new King of Swing" - The Independent
"Impeccable choice of music. [Todd] and his musicians interact wonderfully" - Sir Michael Parkinson
"A really interesting choice of material - and such a good voice!" - Norma Winstone MBE
"Gordon has made the Great American Songbook his own" - The Guardian.
For more information, visit www.toddgordon.com
