Lily Dior

An ex-pat Australian singer now settled in London, Lily comes with an impressive and extensive cv. The daughter of professional musicians who met and married in London, Lily spent her first five years touring the world with her parents before they finally settled in Australia. Being surrounded by music from such an early age clearly had an impact and as a teenager she was already writing, performing and producing her own shows. Her debut album ‘Invitation’ received universal praise and put Lily firmly on the Australian music map. "She can belt out a song, dramatize a lyric, swing hard and earthy, flirt, sing a tender song - Lily can tell a story" ABC. After working with various high profile bands in Sydney, in 2000 she travelled to New York to study with iconic jazz vocalist Mark Murphy, with whom she also ended up performing. That same year she was singled out by legendary arranger/pianist Dave Matthews to perform with The Manhattan Jazz Quintet, which included Bill Evans, Charnett Moffett, Victor Lewis, and Lew Soloff, at Sydney Casino’s Lyric Theatre. In an extensive and highly respected career Lily is now recognised as one of Australia’s foremost vocalists, performing at major festivals and venues in Australia and around the World, including The Opera House Concert Hall, The State Theatre, Sydney Festival, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Wellington International Jazz Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Bellingen Jazz Festival, Christchurch Jazz Festival, Thredbo Jazz Festival, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Jazz in The Vines, Jazz in The Gardens and the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz. International appearances include performances in New York, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong and of course London and she has shared the stage with a who’s who of world-class musicians including Oscar Castro Neves, Paul Grabowsky, Dale Barlow, Mike Nock and James Morrison. She also includes numerous TV and Radio appearances and hosted her own show on Sydney’s premiere jazz station ‘Eastside Radio’ for over ten years. The music tonight will be classic “Groove” orientated material with some of her own excellent groove originals, all performed with Lily’s trademark powerful and charismatic vocals. I rate her so highly I actually asked her to perform with my band recently, trust me she’s well worth catching. Also featured tonight will be the terrific piano playing of Gareth Williams (Claire Martin, Pee Wee Ellis).

“Jazz and soul coexist in Lily Dior’s repertoire, and in her vocal style…. sassy, soulful, passionate and strong.” Rhythms magazine