Jazz at the Vaults: Yvonne Lawley - Vocalist

Music has always been a big part of Yvonne’s life. Classically trained from an early age she often appeared in concerts and competitions singing with her equally talented sister. Then, after joining her father’s band she started playing Midlands social clubs during the 70’s which ultimately led her to move onto the Devon hotel and holiday club scene where Yvonne developed a wide repertoire before deciding, after attending a Jazz Workshop in Teignmouth, to specialise in jazz and the Blues.

After moving to Bath some notable gigs of recent times have been performing back in Devon at the Teignmouth Jazz Festival, opening the evening for a concert given by the wonderful Morag McLaren and in Bath Abbey, performing a piece specially written for 4 voices as part of an event marking the 40th anniversary of Dorothy House Hospice.

With her buoyant approach, Yvonne has a convincing way with ballads and the American Songbook never sounded better. She perfectly understands the intimacy of jazz and the phraseology of the blues. Her confident pitch and rich voice is the perfect vehicle for her improvisatory explorations and with her wide range of music styles to draw on expect some interesting choices of material.

It’s no wonder that Yvonne has established herself as one of the Vaults’ favourites and after her performance in the community production of David Copperfield at Bath’s Theatre Royal some “theatre goers” as well.