Stacey Kent

A sublime interpreter of the Great American Songbook as well as Chanson, Bossa Nova and original songs, Stacey Kent’s repertoire extends well beyond her jazz roots. A french-speaking Grandfather introduced the young Kent to wonders of poetry which led her to a degree in comparative literature at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. A chance meeting in Oxford with Jim Tomlinson took her down a musical path and to the Guildhall School of Music where her love of poetry continued to drive her artistic vision. Kent’s collaborators include the Nobel Laureate, Kazuo Ishiguro, who has written lyrics for her since 2006. Stacey is a truly international artist who has graced the stages of over 50 countries across 6 continents. She serves as an expert tour guide through songs of love, moments of nostalgic reflection, and expressions of joy. Her voice can act as a ray of sunshine or a consoling hand, but above all, it serves as a mirror for the heart. On Spotify, she has racked up 325 million streams on Spotify and her previous album, I Know I Dream (Sony) was awarded Best Vocal Album at the 2018 Jazz Japan Awards.

Her new project, Songs From Other Places is a captivating and eclectic collection of voice and piano duets. Accompanying Stacey on this musical journey is the extraordinary pianist, Art Hirahara. The idea for this album germinated when “I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again,” written for her by Nobel Prize-winning author, Kazuo Ishiguro, and her long-time collaborator and husband, Jim Tomlinson, was the most talked-about and requested song by her fans on social media.

Songs From Other Places is an exploration of the themes of place, belonging, and the transformative power of travel. It includes songs by Paul Simon, Jobim, Weil & Gershwin, Lennon & McCartney, Stevie Nicks, plus two new Tomlinson / Ishiguro originals. With tracks in English, French and Portuguese, Songs From Other Places is out now on Candid Records.

“Some music seems fated to match a moment in time. SONGS FROM OTHER PLACES provides that level of sublime solace for ours… Stacey Kent’s clear-as-light vocals and Art Hirahara’s lyrical piano make their duo outing exactly “what the world needs now.” – JAZZ TIMES