Songs of Experience is an expression of life being lived. Emma Cantons is essential listening - life affirming, passionate, Soulful and heartfelt. A singer, pianist and songwriter, Emma influences are the Gershwins, Rogers & Hammerstien, Ella Fitzgerald,

11 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Swing/Big Band, POP: Piano



Details:
Emma Cantons has two children and lives in London, England with her daughter and her 2nd husband, Anthony Cantons the artist.

Emma comes from a highly musical background. Her father (Neil Hobson) was a jazz pianist and stage designer and her mother (Mary Lush) was a concert pianist graduating from the Royal Academy of Music (UK) with a gold medal.

From her earliest years Emma accompanied her father on the piano, improvising songs and melodies. As a teenager, she was writing and performing cabaret, ranging from comedy to mellow jazz. In 1984, Emma won a place at the Guildhall School of Music, on the singerâs course, and began giving recitals of Schumann and Fauré amongst many others. It was at one of these performances that Emma was introduced to Nica Burns, the organizer of the âPerrier Awardsâ who took her on as a client. Emma appeared at âThe Kingâs Head, Islingtonâ, âVioletâsâ & the famous âGroucho Clubâ where The Tatler described her with the words âPretty, witty & talented - she will go farâ¦â.

Amongst Emmaâs musical influences are the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Rogers & Hammerstein, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Stephan Grapelli, Fats Waller, Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, Fauré and Bach.

In 1989 Emma had her first child, Robert. Unfortunately he was born with autism, which required care & attention almost 24 hours a day. Her daughter Eleanor was born in 1993. For a while singing and song writing took a back seat. In 2005 Robert needed the kind of help only full time residential education & care could provide. As he began to flourish so did the rest of the family. Emma began to write again. She found that as in all things creative when the opportunity is not there the creativity does not go away but rather develops in silence only waiting to be expressed.

'Songs of Experience ' is therefore not just the result of six months solid writing but rather the final expression of all her life so far. It includes not only the life affirming 'Just Dance' and 'Soar', but also more introspective work including 'Dark Rainbow' which examines her relationship with her son.

The first two tracks recorded were called âJust Danceâ & âCinderellaâ. These tracks were written, performed & produced by her in 2005. In 2006 she then collaborated with producer, Dean Murphy and recorded âPassionâs Ghostâ & âGirl on a Benchâ. Emma added more tracks and the album titled âSongs of Experienceâ was completed in February 2007.

Since then, Emma has created a MySpace online presence and has drawn together a 4-piece band to perform live. The band consists of Emma on piano and vocals; Ben Treeby on guitar; John Wells on bass and Dean Murphy on drums.

Songs of Experience is already being heard on the radio. Select radio stations in the UK and Jazz Plus fm (Montreal, Canada) have as of March 2007 begun to play tracks from Songs of Experience. The stations have relationships with Emma via MySpace. Emma has also appeared on ALL fm (Manchester, UK) on Ginaâs Sunday afternoon show 1-3pm (1st April) for a live performance (2 songs + interview).

Emma Cantons & The Band are playing live:

Pizza on The Park Jazz Club, London UK 11th July
Volupte Jazz Luonge, London UK 24th July
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club, Manchester UK 26th July
Volupte Jazz Luonge, London UK 24th July

Greenwich Riverfront Jazz Festival (London, UK) this September. Date TBC