A Lifetime In Music
Jill Saward
A Lifetime In Music
Jill Saward the voice of Shakatak
Early Years
Jill began her musical career at the age of 16, with the British progressive jazz rock band Fusion Orchestra, from 1969 to 1972, dominating the English club scene at that time.
Jill Saward and Fusion Orchestra gained a following of fans who secured a record deal with EMI music to produce their first album Skeleton in Armour', an album that immediately received critical acclaim upon its debut, and is now considered a collector's item highly sought after.
After the band Fusion Orchestra split, Saward became involved in a new all female group, called Brandy. The band, produced by Polydor, was active for about three years in the UK and Europe, before disbanding in 1976.
Working her way up!
Jill was spotted later by the band leader Nicky North who invited her to perform in the 'Cats Whiskers' with his own big soul funk band. She also made a name for herself as one of the UK's session singers at that time. Saward also had a brief stint with a musical group of all women, called Citizen Gang, built by a French manufacturer of Orpheus Productions, and still managed to collaborate with the Nicky North Band. It was in this period she met band, Nigel Wright and Roger Odell, who are still components of jazz-funk band Shakatak.
Today
Jill became the leading voice of Shakatak sharing success for more than 43 years. The band is still touring and recording and still popular around the world, especially in Europe and the Far East. They usually publish a new album every two years for JVC Records and Secret Records.
Despite constant touring and recording, Jill has always managed to find time to develop new projects, and still continues to write and record new material.
Jill Saward (solo albums)
1999: Just For You
2016: Just For You (remastered with three bonus tracks)
2016: M Is For Manhattan
2016: Endless Summer
With Fusion Orchestra
1973: Skeleton in Armour - recorded at Abbey Road Studios
With Brandy
1977: Ooh Ya
With Citizen Gang
1979: Citizen Gang
1979: "Womanly Way"
Live and on the road Shakatak gig list
Discover Music Genres
MAR 16 Bowdon Rooms, Altrincham, UK
MAR 24 St Gregorys, Sudbury, UK
MAR 30 Westgate Hall, Canterbury, UK
APR 6 Login Lounge, Camberley, UK
APR 10 ECI, Roermond, Holland
APR 12 Hot Jazzclub, Munster, Germany
APR 13 Kuster’s Hof, Wunstorf, Germany
APR 14 Meisenfrei, Bremen, Germany
APR 15 Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, Germany
APR 16 Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, Germany
APR 18 Gigant, Apeldoorn, Holland
APR 19 De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Holland
APR 21 Musiktheater, Dortmund, Germany
APR 22 Capitol, Dusseldorf, Germany
APR 23 Harmonie, Bonn, Germany
APR 24 Wollfabrik, Schwetzingen, Germany
APR 25 & 26 Villa Felber, Ermatingen, Switzerland
MAY 1 Boisdale, London, UK
MAY 10 Maltings, Ely, UK
MAY 11 St Nicholas Chapel, Kings Lynn, UK
MAY 24 The Junction, Cambridge, UK
JUN 28 Concorde Club, Eastleigh, UK
JUL 13 Somerton Music & Arts Festival, Somerton, UK
JUL 21 Rewind Festival, Scone Palace, Perth, UK
JUL 27 Chequer Mead, Grinstead, UK
AUG 4 Rewind festival, Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield, UK
AUG 5-10 Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London, UK
AUG 18 Rewind Festival, Temple Island Meadows, Henley-On-Thames, UK
SEP 4 Boisdale, London, UK
SEP 7 The Factory, Worthing, UK
SEP 13 The Stables, Wavendon, UK
OCT 4 Esher Theatre, Esher, UK
NOV 2 Public Hall, Witham, UK
NOV 7-9 Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London, UK
NOV 28 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-On-Sea, UK
NOV 29 Venue 16, Ipswich, UK
2025
FEB 28 Arts Centre, Colchester, UK
JUN 7 Soultasia, Promenade Park, Maldon, UK
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