Cleveland Watkiss

CLEVELAND WATKISS BIOG.
Winner of the London Jazz Awards for best Vocalist 2010'
& Voted Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards best vocalist for three consecutive years.



Born in the East End of London,
Virtuoso vocalist, Actor and composer Cleveland Watkiss Studied the voice at 'London school of singing' With Opera Coach 'Arnold Rose' and at the Guildhall School Of Music And Drama. Cleveland was also one of the co-founders of the vastly influential Jazz Warriors big band. His vocals can be heard on there debut album, Out of Many People which won a video award in Japan.
Cleveland was then entered for the Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards and was voted best vocalist for three consecutive years, and was the opening act of choice for two of the worlds greatest femail jazz vocalists 'Cassandra Wilson' And 'Abbey Lincoln' John Fordham, the Guardian music journalist accurately describes Cleveland as 'arriving on the scene with a bang".
He's amazing vocal experiences has seen him perform with many diverse artists from around the world like: 'The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra','Dusseldolf Symphonic Orchestra', Wynton Marsalis,'Bob Dylan',Jackie Mittoo,'Keith Richards','James Taylor Quartet',Art Blakey,
Sly & Robbie, Abdullah Ibrahim, 'Stevie Wonder', 'Patife','Lepaja Symphonic Orchestra', 'Carlinhos Brown', Jazz At Lincoln Centre Orchestra 'JALO' 'Robbie Williams','Joe Cocker','Bobby McFerrin', 'The Who''Branford Marsalis', 'George Martin',Art Blakey', 'Julian Joseph','Bocato Big Band', Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sugar Minott', 'Lisa Stansfield', 'Courtney Pine', 'Janet Kay','Maxi Priest','Soul ii Soul', 'London chamber orchestra', 'Kassa Mady', 'Goldie','Cassandra Wilson', 'Kenny Wheeler big band', 'Sugar Minot','Talvin Singh', 'Bjork','Pete Townshend', 'London Community Gospel Choir' (LCGC), And many many More.
Click HERE to read 'LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL' 2009 REVIEW -
Cleveland watkiss is also a very keen Music Educator,
Working as a voice instructor for Singup, with workshops in Venues/Schools, colleges and Universities around the UK.
Click for Singup link



Click for Video link



The year starts off on a vocal high with the delivery of 'Inspire',a programme aimed at inspiring teachers to use new singing techniques in the classroom. Now in its third year, the programme is delivered in partnership with the Workforce Development Team at Sing Up.



Back by popular demand, Cleveland Watkiss and musicians will tour the beautiful Cornish countryside later this month, visiting 8 primary schools across the county including Parc Eglos in Helston, Brunel Primary in Saltash and St Petrocs in Bodmin to name a few . With an emphasis on boys singing, Cleveland will be a positive male role model – showing how much fun can be had from singing, scatting and improvisation. For teachers, the programme offers support and techniques - featuring warm up tips, scatting and improvisation exercises and curriculum based singing activities.



During our stay in the West Country, we are also pleased to be part of the National Male Singing Leaders Conference which runs on the 23rd and 24th February in Truro. On Wednesday 24th we will be hosting jazz vocal workshops for delegates and observational workshops with local primary school boys. There will also be opportunity for the delegates to sit back and enjoy a performance by the Cleveland Watkiss Quartet, featuring Shane Forbes (drums), Mark Hodgson (double bass), Trevor Watkis (piano)
www.singup.org



He also designed the vocal curriculum for BA Students at
The 'Weekend Arts college' (WAC) in north london.
And is a regularly facilitator and voice coach for the 'Artist Development Programme' (ADP) at the Hackney Empire Theatre in east London.
PRESENT:
More recently, demonstrating great versatility Cleveland watkiss was cast the Starring role In Julian Joseph's groundbreaking Jazz Opera as 'BRIDGETOWER' to considerable acclaim.
Click for Bridgetower Video link
Cleveland has and continues to performed in many of the major concert halls, Festivals and clubs around the world with VocalSuite
which is a solo voice performance, Click for VocalSuite Review
and his new Quartet 'CWQ' with three exellent accompanists: Shaney Forbes (drms) and Mark Hodgson (bass) Marco Piccioni (Guitars)
Click for CW Review



'CLEVELAND WATKISS' PRESS QUOTES….
"Was'nt he awesome? what it takes us 6 to do he does it all by himself". Take 6
"Cleveland Watkiss was voted best vocalist in the wire/guardian awards
three years running and there is no doubt he arrived on the scene with a bang"…Hackney Gazette
"Best male jazz singer in Britain"…Evening standard
vocalist Cleveland Watkiss was imperious on an express train rendition of McLean's "Appointment in Ghana", in which his scat choruses revealed a timbral richness and phrasal trickery that had the horn players nodding in approval.Independent
" A possibly unique unit of voice,bass,and drums,the group nevertheless manages to convey the entire jazz aesthetic by musical implication, while at the same time having all the internal spaciousness you'd expect". JazzUK
"Watkiss' larger than life stage presence and highly original scatting brought the band into the desired higher gear, bringing out great solos".Jazzwise
"Every phrase oozes distinctive musicianship".The Stage
"history shows that it's Cleveland's ability to connect the jazz tradition and the "Songbook" with ever changing sounds of the underground – from roots reggae to drum & bass - that makes him totally unique."Straight No ChaserPB
"The trio live is such a great experience - that's about the bravest line-up any singer can put them self in, and you played it like you lived there :o) That, my dear man, is class".steve lawson
Singing with just bass (Mark Hodgson) and drums (Shaney Forbes) for company is a somewhat risky business, requiring sharp ears and quick musical reflexes, but Cleveland Watkiss has always been blessed with these advantages, so is able to seize and hold an audience's attention solely with the power and versatility of his voice.Chris Parker
"A jazz legend".Telegraph
"Cleveland Watkiss was simply made for the lead of Bridgetowerit could be a career high to date"Jazzwise
"Watkiss has been acknowledged as one of the worlds most outstanding male jazz singers"…The Guardian.
For all Bookings and more info Send Email To:clevelandwatkiss@aol.com
Tel:+44 (0) 20 8133 6596 (Or) +44 (0) 7718 918697
www.clevelandwatkiss.net
also
CLICK HERE FOR 'VocalSuite' WEBSITE



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