Shaw's career in performance began unusually for a jazz musician on the
Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory
Bremer and Jo Brand. Shaw was spotted by Dave Illic, jazz critic for City
Limits and was described as "the voice of the decade." Shaw recorded
an album with legendary English blues and rock artist Carol Grimes, Lazy
Blue Eyes. Over the next two years Shaw moved from the singer-pianist format
to working with his new band, Brave New World, co-formed with Adrian York. This
band garnered a huge club and concert following playing such venues as the Hammersmith
Odeon and Ronnie Scott's in the U.K.
His first solo album Ghostsongs, Live At Ronnie Scott's was described
by The Wire magazine as "quite simply the year's finest
release." Venturing boldly into jazz Shaw recorded a further two albums,
Taking It To Hart (a tribute to Rodgers and Hart) and The Echo
Of A Song (an album of love songs compiled by Shaw's mentor, Ronnie
Scott.) Shaw toured extensively in the UK, Europe and the States, promoting
these albums. His appearances on TV in the '90ss included guesting with
Jools Holland, Pebble Mill, Top Of The Pops (Shaw wrote a song for
the 1993 Children In Need), The Jack Dee Show, Christmas Night
with the Stars (BBC), C4's The Happening, TVAM,
BBC Breakfast Show, BBC 2's A Night of Love, BBC 2's
Jazz at the 606 and, more recently, numerous appearances on the Performance
and Artsworld channels. In the summer of 2002, Carlton/HTV made a documentary
about Shaw.
His collaborators over the years have included Guy Barker, Mari Wilson, Ruby
Turner, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Iain Ballamy, Mornington Lockett, Sarah
Jane Morris, Tim Whitehead, Carol Grimes, Lol Coxhill, Phil Minton and Veryan
Weston, Elton Dean, Fayaaz Virjii and Tony Remy (Jazz Warriors), Gail Thompson,
Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Joe Beck, Papa Vasquez,
Lew Soloff, David Williams, Judi Silvano, Geoffrey Williams, Bobby Hutcherson
and Ray Brown.
Shaw's ongoing and highly popular collaboration is a celebrated duet
show with Claire Martin, the UK's finest female jazz singer. He guested
on her album Too Darn Hot. Together they have toured the world in an
intimate duo setting with Shaw playing piano or sometimes with the BBC Radio
Big Band, a band with whom, over the last six years, Shaw has cemented a highly
popular musical relationship. He has played the Harrogate International Festival
with the Big Band along with concerts all over the UK including Stoke, BBC Leeds
Live, to the Cork International Jazz Festival in 2002 where Shaw made his festival
debut with this internationally acclaimed radio big band. His concert and festival
appearances have been numerous.
In 2002 Shaw performed in Jerry Springer, the Opera, by Richard Thomas
and Stewart Lee . Thomas created the part of the warm-up man/devil for Shaw.
Shaw is a regular on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 as well as this year contributing
to "Behind the Mask with Alison Moyet," on Jazz FM (U.K.)
Nominated two years running for Best Jazz Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards,
Ian Shaw has recorded 8 highly-acclaimed albums. This year, 2003, saw Ian on
a national tour with the world-famous Brodsky String Quartet. The Brodsky
Song Album features Ian alongside Sting, Elvis Costello, Bjørk, Paul
McCartney and Jacqui Dankworth.
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