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"One of
Britain's most emotive voices - in a category of one" (Mojo)
Born in Warwick, educated at Oxford University, by
profession first librarian, then restaurateur but always a
singer of songs where words matter as much as music, June
Tabor is renowned as an explorer of a song's soul and a
performer of gripping commitment. Her recorded work over the
last thirty years shows a diversity of inspirations.
Highlights include the early simplicity of the largely
traditional Airs and Graces (1976), more modern material in
a minimalist setting on Abyssinians (1983) and Aqaba (1988),
the richness and diversity of Angel Tiger (1992) and Aleyn
(1997, recorded live), A Quiet Eye (1999) with the Creative
Jazz Orchestra adding inspirational weight and colour, and
Rosa Mundi (2001), a very personal celebration of the Rose.
More lately An Echo of Hooves (2003), dedicated to the
story-telling power of the traditional Ballad, was
particularly well-received and brought June the 'Singer of
the Year' award at the 2004 BBC Folk Awards. She was
subsequently filmed in concert for BBC4 Sessions, produced
by the same team that has presented her several times on BBC
TV's 'Later with Jools Holland'. 2005 saw two stunning
releases, both on Topic Records - the career-overview 4-CD
boxed set Always, and a new mainstream album At the Wood's
Heart (2005). Early 2006 heralded a promising new musical
relationship with English saxophonist/composer Iain Ballamy
in the trio Quercus (along with June's long-time
accompanist, pianist Huw Warren). The year also brought her
back together with the Renga Ensemble of the London
Philharmonic Orchestra for a further performance of a song
cycle 'Soldier, Sailor, Shepherd' derived from the work of
the C20th collector/folklorist Ruth L. Tongue. Touring in
2006 brought Andy Cutting and Mark Emerson to the fore as an
accompanying duo, leading to June's latest album Apples
(March 2007) adding Tim Harries' double bass and creating a
dynamic piece of work with a character new to June's
recordings. It offers testament to a strength of purpose
which continues to produce work of a standard acknowledged
to be the highest in its field: June Tabor's journey in song
continues.
"As I get older, Tabor says, I understand more the
depths of sorrow and joy that made the song." (The
Guardian)
Notable collaborations, in addition to that with the CJO,
have been with Maddy Prior as Silly Sisters, with Oysterband
on the roots-rock classic Freedom and Rain (1990), with
harpist Savourna Stevenson and bassist Danny Thompson on
Singing the Storm, and with various international artists
over a long period for the Passchendaele peace concerts .
The long-term musical partnerships, with guitarist Martin
Simpson (first recorded on A Cut Above, 1980) , and
subsequently with pianist Huw Warren, have each made a
significant contribution to the development of a remarkable
artist who continues to portray the world's glory and grief
in exquisite and poignant style.
"June Tabor... is quite simply one of Britain's greatest
interpreters of popular song. She is a performer with an
extraordinary range and the ability to mix intensity,
passion and drama with a chillingly lived in voice that
makes every song sound like a personal experience" (The
Guardian)
"She can stop time and draw tears from the stoniest
heart. She sings with compassion, honesty, stoicism and a
painfully acute sense of life's transitory hold". (Sam
Saunders, 2006)
In live performance, expect to be enthralled by this
dark-voiced storyteller whose broad repertoire sets the
anonymous genius of folk poetry alongside work from both the
celebrated and the unsung heroes of modern British writing;
expect an interweaving of words and music that will create
an atmosphere to haunt the memory.
"As a paragon of the virtues that folk music holds in its
cultural armoury, June Tabor must surely rate as number one.
Her repertoire has never been blinkered by a quest for
authenticity: she has covered all territories from Weimar
ballads via jazz to the most trad of trad English folk. And
yet, the sense of scholarship that she brings to her work
never lets you forget that you are listening to, perhaps,
the greatest interpreter and curator of indigenous British
music." (BBC) |
