1000 not out: Clare Teal's gig at Epsom Playhouse is the 1000th of her professional career
Speaking prior to her appearance at Epsom Playhouse - the 1000th concert of her professional career - award-winning jazz singer Clare Teal seems to be more comfortable with things than she was this time last year.
This is a direct effect of the aptly-titled Get Happy, Clare's new album, which has seen a return to her favourite musical chair - jazz - after a spell on the tempting but ultimately disappointing chaise longue of pop.
"I didn't really have a choice but to go in that direction," says a magnanimous Clare in reference to her pop-tinged 2007 record Paradisi Carousel, "but I'm not blaming anyone. I signed to Sony Jazz, but when Sony merged with BMG, Sony Jazz was no more and I got moved into the adult music seciton, and they didn't want a jazz record.
"I spent a long time not compromising music morals so that I produced something everyone was happy with. There wasn't much promotion for it either, so I had a tough year really.
"But it really refocussed me. And when I met John Williams from Universal record company, he said we want you to make a jazz album' and funnily enough that's exactly what I wanted to do. I missed jazz."
And everything about it sounds right, from Clare's excellent self-penned tunes that sit among fresh takes on jazz classics, all the way down to the recording of Get Happy, which was lightning quick.
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"We were recording for about five days," adds Clare, 34, "and it sounds as close to what I do live then I have ever managed before. I'm delighted with how it came out.
"We recorded it at Air Studios in London, which are George Martin's studios and it was an almost religious experience. You can click your fingers in thin air and it will sound great - you pay for the atmosphere and the natural acoustics of the room.
"There was a beautiful, stunning piano, a gorgeous old mic, a beat-up old hammond B3 organ, it was very organic session, even though it was digital. I was taking a hard drive home in me handbag, and we got to take our time over the harmonies.
"A big part of what I do is close harmony vocals, and they can be intricate so it was nice to be relaxed when we did that. I am a devotee of Brian Wilson, the Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the Mamas and Papas, the dop-wop era as well, and back to the Boswell Sisters in the 20s. Voices singing together in harmony is a real joy."
Clare's own backing vocalists are called the Symphomaniacs (good name Clare!), which augments her classic trio of piano, bass and drums.
A Parky favourite, Bath-based Clare has bagged several big accolades over the years, including the Jazz Vocalist of the Year in the British and BBC Jazz Awards. Get Happy is her eighth album, 13 years after her debut, Nice Work.
Clare Teal; Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, KT18 5AL; Tuesday, March 4, 8pm, £18.50/£14.80, call 01372 742555 or visit epsomplayhouse.co.uk for booking.
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