Scotland’s Newest Jazz Sensation Takes Centre Stage This Summer

One of Scotland’s most exciting and engaging jazz singers Georgia Cécile is definitely one to add to your Spotify playlist this summer. Tipped as ‘One To Watch’ by BBC Introducing and Jazzwise Magazine, Cécile’s live performances and her songwriting partnership with award-winning pianist/composer Euan Stevenson make for the most delicious listening while her self assured performance style is truly captivating. 

This is jazz, but not the over-indulgent noodling and chaotic frenzy that turns many of us off the genre. This is like dipping a bar of rich dark chocolate into a hot milky drink on a winter’s day type jazz. Cécile cites both pop and soul as influences, which is key to her crossover appeal, naming contemporaries such as Celeste, Gregory Porter and Melody Gardot as influences - as well as old favourites like Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone.

Ahead of her much-anticipated forthcoming debut album ‘Only The Lover Sings’ which is said to “fuse classic jazz and soul influences” and a performance at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival on 25th July,  her beautiful new single ‘He Knew How To Love’ is out now.

The new track is perhaps her most accessible release to date, as the jazz-flavoured beginning builds into a full blown pop ballad at times. Co-writer/arranger Euan Stevenson guides the instrumentation with a cinematic soundscape of strings, percussion, piano and hammond organ as the track ebbs and flows, mirroring the ups and downs of life. As Cécile’s vocals take centre stage, she recounts stories of her father’s love and devotion through the years, taking stock of her journey from childhood into womanhood. She explains: “It celebrates paternal love - that special bond that exists between all fathers and daughters but it’s also about difficult choices in life, family and sacrifice. The song captures the essence of my own father - his presence, spirituality and selfless nature - the ways in which he nurtured and shaped my world. The choices and sacrifices he made in life allowed me to pursue my dreams”.

There is also a stunning music video to accompany the single, made in collaboration with Scottish film director and choreographer Rianne White, shot at Gosford House in East Lothian. The duo has delivered an elegantly rich and movie-like production which remains with you long after it has ended. 

There is still time to register for the virtual Edinburgh Jazz Festival event here, where Cécile will be joined by her trio with Stevenson at the helm on piano, Andrew Robb on bass and Max Popp on drums alongside a top Scottish string quartet led by violinist Seonaid Aitken.