Lunchtime Special: Catherine Lima

Born in Chiswick, Catherine spent her formative years in the North and then in Spain before returning to London where she spent eight years performing lead roles in musical theatre. Her introduction to jazz singing was at an invitation to perform with the great jazz pianist Pete Churchill and since then she has worked regularly with some of the finest jazz musicians in town, appearing at the Spice of Life, the Vortex, Pizza on the Park, the Pheasantry, Pizza Express Dean Street, the Belvedere Jazz Club, Annie’s Jazz Club and St. Ants Jazz Club. Drawing on influences such as Anita O'Day, Patricia Barber, Barbra Streisand and Peggy Lee with a nod toward Hoagy Carmichael, Catherine is a charismatic singer with a warm expressive tone that she uses to expertly create moods from sultry to joyous. Besides a repertoire that includes jazz classics/blues and Latin, she also writes and performs her own songs and is a featured vocalist with two big bands - the John Ongom Big Band and MOJO. Her latest album, ‘Stories and Lies’, was released at the end of last year and she tells us she will "do some of the songs from my new album plus some better known standards". Accompanying Catherine this afternoon will be Gabriel Keen-piano, Jerome Davies-bass and Jason Campbell-drums.

“versatile talent…entertaining." Phil Church, The Belvedere Jazz Club