BBC award-winning jazz vocalist, Ian Shaw has performed with Jools Holland, Charlotte Church, Jamie Cullum and a whole manner of world class orchestras and big bands. He has portrayed villains in two British films and was the original Devil in Jerry Springer, The Opera.
In the last couple of years, in addition to recording a highly acclaimed album at the legendary Abbey Road studios, Shaw has been sharpening his comedy skills by appearing alongside Rory Bremner and Red Dwarf's Hattie Hayridge in a nationwide tour which continues into this summer.
On Saturday, May 19 at The Pheasantry, Ian previews his solo one-man show: A Bit Of A Mouthful. It is a collection of witty songs, hilarious stories, saucy banter and heartfelt balladry before a full run at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival in August.
Kingsroad.co.uk spoke to Ian ahead of his performance...
Tell us more about your gig coming up at The Pheasantry
"A Bit Of A Mouthful" with me is a 75 minute show, mixing comedy and song. It goes to The Stand at The Edinburgh Festival in August... I'm saying no more!
What for you is special about performing at The Pheasantry?
The audience is practically onstage with you so The Pheasantry is the ideal venue to try out new material. It brings back memories of my piano bar days in dodgy dives. This ain't no dodgy dive though...it has all the charm of a cruise ship... any minute, Deborah Kerr will glide down those stairs in satin.
Tell us about your history with King's Road
I have a strange, yet happy allegiance with the King's Road.
My first posh gig was Kennedy's (now a rib shack I think), a glamorous restaurant and club on two floors. I had the upstairs residency and Duffo, the weirdest Oz post-punker ("Give Me Back Me Brain") shared downstairs with singer and songwriter Sarah Jane Morris, now a close pal. I was terrified of her in the 80s with her size 10 docs, plaits and Victorian knickers.
I was later to work at Elizabeth David, a swanky kitchen shop, off Sloane Square. Counting corn on the cob skewers and serving Jane Asher cake tins was, alas, not the most successful route for my development. Jazz singer, Gill Manly and I used to take full advantage of having the shop to ourselves on Saturdays. Cue the biscuits and ring around for gigs. The boss was not best pleased when someone snitched.
Songwriter and poet, Fran Landesman's son, Miles and I were in a band called This Bed at this time. He had a funky basement flat just off the King's Road and was dating Sara Stockbridge, the Vivienne Westwood model. I slept on a piece of sponge in the cellar. Happy days.
What's coming up next for you?
I am very much looking forward to singing Ray Charles songs at the end of the month at the flagship Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street...with my superb trio: Janette Mason, piano; Simon Little on bass and the powerhouse London drummer, Winston Clifford. And of course my Edinburgh show is in August.
What are your five favourite records of all time?
This changes daily but at the moment I'm revisiting Pat Metheny's Brazilian music; the new Paloma Faith single gets me dancing 'round in my pants; Joni Mitchell's Taming the Tiger album and Carmen (McRae) Sings Monk are both in there. Oh, and I've also been listening to a fabulous new soul singer called Janine Johnson.
Tickets for Ian Shaw's preview performance of A Bit Of A Mouthful, Saturday 19 May 8:30pm, available to book online at Pizza Express Live or telephone 0845 6027 017.
Follow