‘One of the most adventurous vocalists around, a musical explorer…’ The Jazzmann
Improvising vocalist, composer & lyricist
Born in Milan to a Turkish father and Turkish-British mother, Beraha grew up on the Côte d’Azur in France where her first music memories are of sitting and listening to her dad play piano and sing. This musical, multinational and multilingual upbringing combined to inspire and mould one of the most creative vocalists and composers on the UK scene.
Embracing a wide variety of music influences and genres, from jazz and latin to classical and, more recently, electronic, Beraha’s sound is free and fluid with an emphasis on exploration and expression. Fearlessly testing the limits of the voice as instrument, her sound is distinguished by the unexpected, with free improvisation and evocative wordless singing at its core.
This agility, adventurous spirit and limitless imagination all mark her out as a truly exciting and versatile artist with a huge range of experience and creative scope.
She has worked with a wide range of musicians and recorded a number of critically acclaimed albums. Her first solo work By the Cobbled Path (2021) has seen her unending curiosity explore electronic sounds and effects further still, to compliment and accentuate the dream-like quality of her compositions. This album marks the next stage of Beraha’s ever-exciting journey as composer, vocalist and lyricist. Her 5th album as a leader ‘Blink’ (2022), the follow up to Lucid Dreamers (2020) where she is joined by top-class London musicians George Crowley, Alcyona Mick & Tim Giles, was released on 20th May 2022 with a 13-date UK/ European tour supported by Arts Council England, the band’s first touring opportunity since forming in 2020. They are now embarking on another run of dates and plan to record their third album for a release in late 2023.
Previous albums, Prelude to a Kiss (FMR, 2005) and Flying Dreams (F-Ire, 2008), equally reveal the constant movement and development of Beraha as an artist. The former, a combination of jazz standards and originals, attests to her love for jazz and latin standards while also setting the tone for her trademark contemporary and ethereal sound, enhanced by the saxophone of Ingrid Laubrock. The second is a more personal collection of original compositions, influenced by Anglo-European and latin jazz as well as Brigitte’s own cosmopolitan upbringing.
Collaborations
Apart from leading her own band ‘Lucid Dreamers’, the main current collaborations Brigitte is involved in are with Ant Law, Façades Vocal Quartet and ‘Tea for Three’. Find out more about these and others on the Projects page.
More recently, Beraha has also been involved in a number of cross-genre projects such as the recreation of Basil Kirchin’s music as part of Hull City of Culture 2017 with the BBC Concert Orchestra, the re-imagining of Eddie Parker’s 12-piece Debussy Mirrored Ensemble, and Raising Hell with Henry Purcell led by Ethan Iverson at Kings Place in 2018.
Teaching
Also a top-class educator, Beraha found an affinity for teaching during her studies in London and now teaches jazz vocals at the Guildhall School of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and the Royal Welsh College of Music. She also runs her own masterclasses and teaches on various courses and summer schools throughout the year such as CLJAZZ and LoireMusic.
Further information
Brigitte has worked with an extensive list of established artists and musical luminaries, having performed and/or recorded with Kenny Wheeler, Chris Laurence, Paul Clarvis, Bobby Wellins, Martin France, Yazz Ahmed, Ethan Iverson, Mandhira de Saram, Olie Brice, Cath Roberts, Dee Byrne, Kim Macari, Will Gregory, The BBC Concert Orchestra, Eddie Parker, Evan Parker, Stuart Hall, Winston Clifford, Frank Harrison, Dave Manington, Tom Challenger, Rob Updegraff, Stan Sulzmann, Huw Warren, Riaan Vosloo, Noel Langley, Jez Franks, Geoff Eales, Steve Fishwick, Pete King, Alan Barnes, Liam Noble, John Parricelli, Ingrid Laubrock, Barry Green, Julian Siegel, Jim Watson, Mike Gorman, Cleveland Watkiss, Anita Wardell, Tim Garland, Tim Whitehead, Jason Rebello, Scott Stroman, Malcolm Creese, Andy Panayi, Ivo Neame, Phil Donkin, George Hart, John Turville, Tim Lapthorn, Jez Franks, Tori Freestone, Gwillym Simcock, Josephine Davies and many more.
She has performed and led workshops in the United States, France, Brussels, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Finland, Turkey, Nepal and all over the UK, performing regularly in London at top venues such as the Vortex, the National Theatre, Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Festival Halls, Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Jazz Club, the Spice of Life, The 606 and venues run by the Loop and E17jazz collectives. Brigitte was nominated for ‘Vocalist of the Year’ in the Jazz Fm Awards 2022, Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022 and for the the Ivors Composer Awards 2021.