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Carole Phillips: ‘I just love to sing’ |
Dream ticket for late starter
REVIEW: JAZZAHOLICS
EDINBURGH CELLARS
CAMDEN Town’s loss is Stoke Newington’s gain.
The closure of Bar Solo in Inverness Street after a police raid has prompted Jazzaholics to relocate its weekly residency to the Edinburgh Cellars, the fine Victorian pub on Newington Green Road.
And, judging by the first night’s reception, the relocation looks likely to be as successful.
Regular singers Carole Phillips and Laura Long were complemented by guest singer Esther Bennett, one of London’s top jazz singers, with contributions from special guests, singers Yots K and Kai Hoffman.
For life-long Camden resident Carole Phillips, 62, to be performing in the company of such illustrious singers was literally a dream come true.
She’s had a successful career as a West End wardrobe mistress and, more recently, she’s been working with the Probation Service to help ex-offenders.
All the time, though, she’s wanted to be a singer but never dared sing. For the first 58 years of her life, she felt so frightened of singing she couldn’t even bring herself to join in renditions of Happy Birthday.
Four years ago, she enrolled at the Working Men’s College (WMC) for women and men in Crowndale Road and, to her amazement, she found she really could sing.
“I’d always wanted to sing jazz standards and swing since I was a child,” says Carole.
“But I just couldn’t bring myself to sing, even in private.
“So, four years ago, and rather late in the day, I decided it was now or never and I enrolled in the Absolute Beginners singing class at the WMC.
“I got a lot of encouragement from Cerys Hogg at the WMC and later from Laura Long at her Belsize Park singing studio. Now I just love to sing wherever I can.”
She’s got a natural voice with a touch of Ella Fitzgerald’s and she sings in tune.
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