Biography

Emma Harris Live

Emma comes from a musical family and started singing at the tender age of five. At seventeen she embarked on a lifelong love affair with Jazz. This saw the beginning of a six year stint with the jazz quartet 'Eyebrow Music' singing the songs of greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday.

Since those early days Emma has gone on to have a wealth of musical experiences, she spent 3 years gigging with 'Blues Express', a five piece Delta/Chicago style Blues band. Her warm husky voice perfectly fitted the genre and it was during this time that she developed the Bluesy Gospel edged style that she is well known for now. By this time she also began teaching gospel and world music to natural voice accapella choirs across the uk.

In 2001 Emma began singing as a guest at the 'Nunney Jazz Cafe' starting with 'Ghost Dance' performing alongside Brazilian Bluesman Alamo Leal and Gospel singer Kizzy Morrell.

She went on to perform with ex James Brown saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis for the 'Gospel Cafe' doing tracks from Pee Wee's Gospel album 'Ridin Mighty High'. Pee Wee's soulful tenor playing is featured on 'LoveLife', Emma's debut album.

Other incarnations of Nunney Jazz saw Emma singing for the 'Tango Cafe' with accordionist Karen Street and saxophonist Mike Mower and the 'Paris Cafe' with bassist Dave Griffiths and trumpeter Pete Judge.

In 2003 Emma joined 'Naked Voices' a 17 piece Bristol based accapella group who are favourites at the Edinburgh and Prague Fringe Festivals with sell out gigs every year. They performed an astonishingly diverse range of songs, replacing complex instrumentation with voices.

Emma has worked as a vocal coach for theatre productions and led workshops in Vocal Improvisation. She has done a variety of session work including film soundtracks. She trained at Goldsmiths University of London as a Community Music Leader. Emma won the 'Pure Solo Jazz Vocalist Competition' in 2011.

Emma has sung with

Page Updated: 27/02/2011 17:51:15