JAZZ singer Zoe Schwarz beings her Blue Commotion to Bridport Arts Centre this week.

Her band, which features established jazz musicians stamping their personality on blues flavoured tunes that delve as far back as Willie Dixon, Billie Holiday and Muddy Waters, and reaching forward via some originals penned by Zoë and Rob Koral.

The band plays with a jazz sensibility and the musicians include Dave Newton on piano, Paul Robinson on drums, Steve Thompson on double-bass, band leader Rob Koral on guitar, and the captivating and highly individual vocals of Zoë Schwarz.

Zoe said: “The idea of Blue Commotion is to lean on the blues side of Jazz. This was a gradual but inevitable outcome after eight years of playing together, as Rob and I honed in to what suits us best. It is very much jazz, with a traditional line-up making sure we retain the sensibility and jazz feel that we all love.

“The twist being that we are delving into the blues archives of songs by the likes of Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Buddy Johnson; also some of those expressive Billie type bluesy ballads, which got me started in the first place, and then, looking forward by adding some of our own songs. I hope you find our interpretation of the songs, and the combination of some of our favourite musicians, an enjoyable experience.”

The band’s members have an impeccable pedigree.

David Newton is as an exquisite accompanist for a singer, spread rapidly in the 90s, regularly working with Carol Kidd, Marion Montgomery, Tina May, Annie Ross, Claire Martin and of course, Stacey Kent, with whom he spent the next ten years recording and travelling all over the world.

Rob Koral comes from a ‘self-taught’, more bluesy background; but subsequently made his name on the British jazz scene, performing and recording with the likes of Malcolm Creese, Robin Aspland, Gareth Williams, Roy Babbington, Lawrence Cottle, Django Bates and Bill Bruford. Rob moved to London early in his career and released several well-received albums, appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test and many BBC radio jazz sessions. Rob has played at all of the major jazz venues and festivals throughout the UK, and been regularly featured on Radio 2 and 3 both live sessions and various album recordings both as a solo artist and with Zoe.

Rob also has a reputation of being: “our prolific writer of quality jazz songs”(The Jazz Rag) www.robkoral.co.uk Zoe was classically trained and a graduate in the ‘Performing Arts’ from Middlesex University. Despite Zoe’s classical upbringing and studies, it soon became clear that her forte was far more suited to jazz, expressive ballads and blues.

The gig is on April 6 at 8pm and tickets are £10 from 01308 424204.