Episode 1. Emma Smith (Vocals) - ‘No Moon At All’

Geoff tracks down the wonderful jazz singer Emma Smith just a few weeks after she lands a major record deal. 

She opens up about her remarkable journey from rebelling against her jazz musician parents to becoming one of the UK’s most captivating jazz performers. They discuss everything from improvisation technique to social media and the challenges of making it Stateside. 

Emma’s approach to vocal improvisation reflects her deeply thoughtful musicianship. Unlike instrumentalists who can press keys to produce specific notes, vocalists must develop an internal understanding of harmony. "I have to feel it, I have to become familiar with what a flat 13 feels like," she explains, detailing how she personifies musical modes as characters with distinct personalities. 

In a brilliant demonstration of her improvisation methods, Emma treats us to a world first: an impromptu rendition of her TV wall bracket instruction manual to the Evans/Mann jazz standard ‘No Moon At All’. 

From transcribing trumpet solos to her adventures with the Quartet app, Smith's musical journey reveals an artist committed to growth while remaining authentically herself. Her parting advice resonates with wisdom earned through experience: "Be in the driver's seat of your improvising, of your conviction, of your melodic development, of your storytelling”.

Subscribe now to catch more conversations with today's most exciting jazz artists. 

Presenter: Geoff Gascoyne
Series Producer: Paul Sissons
Production Manager: Martin Sissons
The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.