JATBL - Louise Dodds

A much loved and highly respected figure on the UK jazz scene, Scottish jazz vocalist Louise Dodds released her first album in 9 years on 4th March 2022. The album, ‘The Story Needs an Ending’, is also Louise’s first fully original album. She is now touring it throughout the UK following the official launch at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London.

Recorded with fellow Scots and incredible musicians Tom Gibbs (piano), Andrew Robb (double bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums), the album features 10 original tracks, written by Louise, rooted in jazz but also with the art of song writing at their core. They are all written about Louise’s own life experiences, touching on subjects such as grief, female intuition, emancipation and learning to trust life again.

In 2021, Louise showcased the new material at a headline gig at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, receiving a 4 star review from Jim Gilchrist in The Scotsman

“her delivery is lightsome and clear, with a background warmth of tone that came out in Blossom in Indigo, with its upbeat sense of release underpinned by the nicely traveling band. Elsewhere there was energetic scatting in the self-questioning Nowhere to Hide and a winsome open-heartedness to Every Hue.” **** Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman

Prior to hitting the studio, 2020 saw Louise opening for Norma Winstone as part of the Edinburgh Jazz Festival’s Scottish Jazz Weekend, as well as well as collaborating for the first time, one collaboration resulting in a single being released - Whispers (Credits) with old friend and guitarist Ant Law.

2021 saw further collaborations, recording her original material with musicians from around the globe in a series entitled Songs From the Blue Room. Guests have included Elchin Shirnov (Avishai Cohen trio), Maurizio Congiu, Gro-Marthe Dickson (AMP Records), Graeme Stephen and Alan Benzie. The series was even picked up by press in Russia, Azerbaijan and France.

Louise’s last album, ‘Fly’, was released in 2013 and featured UK jazz heavyweights John Pearce, Dave Green, Steve Brown and Martin Shaw. That same year she performed at Pizza Express as part of the London Jazz Festival, and was also awarded funding by Jazz Services UK and Arts Council England for her upcoming UK tour. In 2012, she was a semi-finalist at the International Jazz Vocalist competition in Lithuania. Louise also performed the Title Theme and Credits Theme for the PS4 game Mutazione in 2019.

Line Up: Louise Dodds - Vocals,  Alan Benzie - piano, David Bowden - Bass, Alyn Cosker - drums

Doors 7:30pm / music from 8pm.

Advance Tickets:

General Admission: £13.50

Concessions : £10.50

Student Tickets: £5

Ticket prices on the door:

General Admission: £15

Concessions: £12

Student Tickets: £5