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Seonaid Aitken
Seonaid Aitken is an jazz vocalist and violinist composer/orchestrator and broadcaster from Fife, currently based in Glasgow[1].
Videos
Artist Biography
Seonaid is an improvising violinist influenced by Stephane Grappelli. She performs with the Seonaid Aitken Ensemble, her award-winning gypsy jazz band Rose Room and as a guest with the Tim Kliphuis Sextet, Martin Taylor MBE and Swing 2022. Following her highly acclaimed Ella Fitzgerald big band show ‘A Night With Ella’ at Aberdeen, Fife, Dundee and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals to mark the centenary of the birth of the ‘First Lady of Song’ she was awarded ‘Best Vocalist’ twice at the Scottish Jazz Awards.
In demand as a versatile session player, recording artist and arranger, Seonaid has played with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera since 2001 and took part in the 2019-2022 UK touring production of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ on violin/viola. She has performed/recorded with acts such as Deacon Blue, Carol Kidd MBE, Eddi Reader and Burt Bacharach, and her arrangements have been commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and featured in the BBC/Richard Curtis film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘Esio Trot’.
Seonaid presents ‘Jazz Nights’ on BBC Radio Scotland, is a regular tutor at the Grappelli Django Camp in The Netherlands, and her commission ‘Chasing Sakura’ was premiered at the 2021 Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, released as an album in Spring 2022 and longlisted in the SAY Award.
Awards
She has been named Best Vocalist by the Scottish Jazz Awards in 2017 and 2018. Her band Rose Room won a Scottish Jazz Award for Best Band.
In 2022, her album Chasing Sakura was nominated for a Scottish Jazz Award for Best Album[2].
Reviews
“Stupendous gypsy jazz player” - The Scotsman
“A voice that ranges from crystal clear high notes to a low, silky purr.” - Acoustic Magazine
“Seonaid Aitken’s bright vocals and breezy virtuosity are simply a pleasure to behold” - Herald Scotland
Discography
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | What Is This Thing Called Love? | Album |
| 2022 | Chasing Sakura | Album |
| 2022 | Sakura Snowstorm (Ethnotronic Mix) | Single |
References
- ↑ Seonaid Aitken. 'About'. http://seonaidaitken.com/about/.
- ↑ Seonaid Aitken. 'Facebook post 15 November 2022'. https://www.facebook.com/seonaidaitkenmusic/posts/pfbid02KVPCKF4KdNUSmUDYRKQbBY4VjkNzpgCumAHswivy1Zd8g5z1PLzHyJtmV2UBrf6al.
