Biography

First words to BBC Radio Suffolk's Stephen Foster, the station's longest serving presenter and a broadcaster with an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music: "Helen Abbey is one of East Anglia's best singers, not just in the field of jazz but in many other genres too". Praise as well from the American Scott Yanow, who included her in his internationally acclaimed book "The Jazz Singers - The Ultimate Guide" (Backbeat Books), describing Helen as "promising and worth knowing about".

Another broadcaster and critic, journalist Alan Crumpton, suggested "that the sky would seem to be the limit" for Helen, noting her "canny eye on the more commercial side of the business" and "an air of growing confidence about her".

Helen Abbey is a graduate of London's prestigious Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama with a Diploma in Performing Arts and began her singing career with a regular gig at the capital's Ritz Hotel with close harmony group The Swing Sisters. After taking time to raise a family, she returned to London to showcase her special vocal talents at the renowned Pizza On The Park venue in Knightsbridge.

A debut album "Simply Me" was released in 2003 and premiered before a sell out crowd at Ipswich's Wolsey Theatre. This recording emphasised her two great qualities that by no means every big name singer in jazz can match - first the ability to deliver a lyric in a manner where every phrase and nuance of a song can be understood. Listen to Helen's first CD - and her follow up recording "Second Time Around", issued in 2009 - and you'll find yourself struck by the clarity of that delivery.

Secondly, she sings a song as if she means every word - a simple but vital strength. There's a sensitivity here that sets her apart from many of her contemporaries - and a not inconsiderable charm at work both on record and in a live set.

Both CDs reflect Helen's great passion for the music - that first disc featured her enduring international collaboration with the superb Italian jazz harmonica player, Luigi Ferrara, and took her to the finals of the Sony Search For A New Jazz Star. Two tracks from "Simply Me" were licensed for inclusion on two jazz compilation albums from Japan destined for the Asian jazz market - "Jewels" and "Peaceful Garden".

"Second Time Around" was launched at the intimate and beautiful surroundings of Sudbury's Quay Theatre in September 2009. This disc was an eagerly anticipated set with a diverse selection of material and a soulful reinterpretation of some fine standards, show tunes and chart toppers with one original composition. If the choice of songs is impeccable - well, so too is Helen's singing.

Helen is now working on original material - she's a gifted lyricist and composer - both by herself at home on the Essex coast and in partnership. There's talk of a third album composed entirely of her own songs as her considerable following looks ahead to the fulfilment of all the promise noted by Scott Yanow in his book.


Donald Muir
Music Manager