Charlotte Mclean is an emerging jazz singer based in West End, with her passion for jazz emerged from studying at the Jazz Music Institute (JMI) when she was 19. The musician has completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Jazz performance and a Masters in Vocal Pedagogy at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
Charlotte learned to improvise her passion for jazz during her study, by listening to other jazz players. “There are heaps of different ways you can practice improvisation, but I think the best way for me is to transcribe,” said Charlotte. “That basically means to learn to sing my favourite solos off by heart. I sing along with other singers but also with guitarists, saxophonists, pianists and I even try to sing with drummers! It definitely isn’t a skill that comes naturally to most people though, so it is kind of like learning a new language.”
Her inspiration for her music comes from live music. “I recently went to see Jim Kelly’s Thrillseekers play at Doo-Bop Jazz Bar. Jim Kelly is an incredible guitarist and I love his compositions so much that I went home pumped to write some new songs. If I hear music that resonates with me and makes me feel, it usually reminds me what direction I want to take my own music in and motivates me to sit down in front of the piano. I also find that collaborating with musicians that I admire is a fun way to get the ball rolling.”
Charlotte has several gigs coming up in the next few weeks. The gigs will feature a modern spin on jazz at Doo-Bop featuring virtuosic pianist Sophie Min, to traditional vocal jazz at Brisbane Jazz Club (Bruce Woodward, OJ Newcomb and David Sanders) and finally, an eccentric collaboration featuring saxophonist/composer Andrew Garton at JMI.
While she’s not playing Jazz Charlotte enjoys Three Monkeys, Insane ACAI Bar, Govinda’s and Sattva Café in West End.
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