JAZZ sensation Clare Teal is returning to the Cambridge Arts Theatre next month. She has been described as the new first lady of jazz . Yorkshire-born Clare will be performing on Sunday, September 10 with her new backing vocalists The Symphomaniacs. She

JAZZ sensation Clare Teal is returning to the Cambridge Arts Theatre next month. She has been described as "the new first lady of jazz".

Yorkshire-born Clare will be performing on Sunday, September 10 with her new backing vocalists The Symphomaniacs.

She will perform jazz tunes from her forthcoming album and her past four albums.

She said: "I like making musical music which is very upbeat and summery.

"We want people to walk out with smiles on their faces."

The award-winning musician, who studied music at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, got her break when she performed at a jazz festival.

The feedback was so positive that she decided to follow her dreams and sent a demo to jazz label Candid.

In 2001, Candid released her debut album, That's the Way It Is, and since then her music career has taken off.

"I have always had a passion for jazz," she said.

"I knew I could hold a tune from a young age, but it was a very private thing and I only sang when I was on my own because I didn't think it would be high on other peoples' agendas."

Clare draws on a range of different musical styles, but said she gets her inspiration from Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra,and 50s and 60s west coast American music.

"I want my music to be joyous," she said.

Clare has worked with Jamie Cullum and Katie Melua, has performed at Glastonbury, the Edinburgh Festival and BBC Proms in the Park, and appeared on Michael Parkinson's chat show.

More recently, she received the BBC jazz award for best vocalist and was nominated for best rising star.

She also has two of her songs, Messin With Fire and Everything Is You on the soundtrack of the British comedy film Confetti, starring Jimmy Carr and Martin Freeman.

Clare is currently working on material for her second album which will be released in early 2007.

She said: "I'm pleased with everything so far but it's taken me a long time to find out where I'm going next."

She also presents Big Band Special on BBC Radio 2 on Mondays at 9pm.

- For tickets to Clare's show in Cambridge call the Box Office on 01223 503333

Book online at

Tickets cost from £10-£20 each. Performance starts at 7.45pm.