Cherry Red Records I Give You My Sunshine

Striding
into the spotlight in 1980 with cult movie “Breaking Glass”, award-winning
singer-songwriter, Hazel O’Connor immediately became an iconic figure. Her
latest album, “I Give You My Sunshine” is an emotional tour de force – her unique
voice delivering with renewed passion and fire. The album is a
introspective soulful dip into a stunning repertoire of the
old, the new and everything in between. The moving title track ‘I Give You
My Sunshine’ about the sunshine in her own heart which was all and everything
that Hazel could give to her hospice bound dying mother.


Other
highlights of the album include very personal new compositions; ‘I
Would Rather (Wonderwoman)’, ‘From The Very First Hello’, ‘Rebecca’ about a
close friend who died from cancer in her thirties and ‘Cinderella Moment’ – a
song about enjoying the company of friends and watching the clock strike
midnight and wondering whether to go home.


Two
songs are from the Nina Simone songbook, ‘Feeling Good’ and ‘Do What You Gotta
Do’ and there are stunning new jazz-blues inspired versions of songs from
Hazel’s own back catalogue ‘Decadent Days’ and ‘That’s Life’ the latter with
the verses emotively sung in French. ‘In These Shoes’ is Hazel’s take on a song
originally written by the much missed Kirsty MacColl whom Hazel remembers with
fondness.


Accompanied
by virtuoso saxophonist Clare Hirst (The Belle Stars, Communards,
David Bowie) and the stunning Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics, Sax in the
City) on keyboards, this powerful blend of voices and musicianship brings
a classy touch of cabaret style energy to Hazel’s vibrant
performance. The trio will be performing across the country as ‘Bluja’ on a
forthcoming tour to promote the new album.


Press:-


“Her latest work is one of those moments of
differentiation: a jazz-blues collection of covers and revisits in the company
of keyboardist Sarah Fisher and The Belle Stars’ saxophonist Clare Hirst. They
make a most sophisticated and sensitive trio.”
 


Record Collector Christmas 2011
/
Ian Abrahams


“Her latest album showcases a mellower
sound drawing on jazz and blues influences. Hazel’s voice has softened with
time, and she is perfectly complimented by Claire Hirst on saxophone and Sarah
Fisher on keyboards.”
 


R2 Magazine January/February 2012
/ Simon Hughes