Critically-acclaimed vocalist Helen Welch is known for her live stage
performances which explore a diverse range of musical compositions, starting
with the 1930s up through present-day. Whether she's singing Ella Fitzgerald,
Peggy Lee and Sarah Vaughan, or Elton John, Sting and Randy Newman, Helen's
sophisticated vocals and humor leave audiences breezily enchanted. On her new
studio album Spellbound, she presents an inspired collection of music including
fresh arrangements of songs by Lennon and McCartney, Antonio Carlos Jobim,
Michel LeGrand, Dolly Parton, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Chick Corea. Featuring
soulful-pop fused with some jazz elements, "this CD needs to be heard!"
quoted on CD Baby. El Cerrito Records agrees that "this is a great
compilation of songs that are beautifully arranged and produced."
Welch's mix of warm alto tones and gentle soul vibrations
combine well on reworking's of Lennon and McCartney's "For No One,"
and Dolly Parton's "Jolene," each beautifully arranged in a way that
transports the listener back in time. Helen Welch (vocals, producer) is joined
by a range of other talented musicians that she collaborated with on this
album, including Joe Leaman (piano, keyboards), Bryan Thomas (bass guitar),
Anthony Taddeo (drums, percussion), and Joe Parker (guitar).
A native of England, Welch is well-known throughout the
United Kingdom for her musical theatre roles and unique performances. She has
landed starring roles in popular Broadway musicals including Hello Dolly!,
Barnum, 42nd Street, Oliver Twist, Calamity Jane, Show Boat, and Carousel; she
debuted in the traditional English Christmas show, Robin Hood, as 'Maid
Marion,' starring renowned English actor and a former "Dr. Who,"
Colin Baker, who played Welch's wicked uncle. On a whim, Welch tried out for a
singing competition and beat out 800 opponents to land a role in the smash-hit
Lieber and Stoller musical Smokey Joe's Café on Broadway. Her experience, from
a brief rehearsal in London to jetting off to New York to join the Broadway
production, was captured on film by a camera crew and made into a television
documentary for the BCC.
From performing in intimate spaces for small groups to
outdoor amphitheatres in front of thousands, Welch has not only impressed
audiences with her raw talent but appeared in some of the world's most
celebrated venues, from solo shows at Cleveland's Playhouse Square Center and
Blossom Music Center to London's The Savoy, The Ritz and The Grosvenor House
Great Room as vocalist for some of the UK's finest big bands including Opus
One, Glen Miller Europe and the BBC Big Band. She can also be spotted
guest-starring or headlining with world-class musical organizations such as The
Cleveland Orchestra, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, The Cleveland Pops Orchestra
and The Florida Symphony and also became a regular in London's major recording
studios. Her voice can be heard in many commercial jingles, films and
television productions, and also the background on recordings of well-known
international artists.
In addition to being a consummate stage performer, Welch is
also president of Big Wow Productions. The company has developed a diverse
selection of shows from the hugely popular 'First Ladies of Song' celebrating
the music of the world's best female vocalists to 'Beatles a Little Brit
Different' in which Helen has taken many great Beatles songs and made them her
own. She performs with her quartet through a 16 piece big band and full
symphony orchestra.
Welch's unique talents for choosing songs that stand the
test of time and making them her own, coupled with her ability to intimately
engage her audience, has quickly earned her a large and devoted following. The
"Helen Welch experience" is perhaps best described by a fan who wrote
on her Amazon page, "If you have a chance to see Helen perform, do it! You
are in for a special treat."
Track Listing for Spellbound:
1. Spellbound
2. For No One
3. Jolene
4. No More Blues
5. The Windmills
of Your Mind
6. When It
Mattered Most
7. I Put a Spell
on You
8. And So It Goes
9. Spain
10. Both Sides Now
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