PS find her albums on Spotify!
Louisa Minghella (aged 15) guesting at the Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, some moons ago. Caught on camera by the iphone-ready hero, Kirk Jones.
(Stage courtesy of Edana Minghella and friends; song courtesy of the LGBT community.)
In memory of Anthony, who died five years ago today.
Looking back
by
Edana Minghella
I said, we’ll both be in our bathchairs on the beach.
– Do you think?
Yes. You’ll be really old and I’ll be sprightly.
But we’ll both be in bathchairs, wrapped in blankets,
on Brighton beach. Or Ryde. A beach somewhere.
Looking out to sea.
– Do you think I’ve done all right?
(You meant the house
I think.)
I said, of course, it’s beautiful.
We’ll talk about gran. And mum and dad. And the shop.
I’ll say, what about the Aunts?
The time the priest came to see Auntie Jeanie in hospital and offered us holy communion?
Our panicked eyes, our open mouths.
I’ll say, remember the rock festival?
The topless girls wanting ninety-nines.
Your face averted, your hands shaking
When you put in the flake.
You at fourteen,
Smelling of chocolate and vanilla.
I’ll say, remember that film you made?
The sixth. Or will it be the seventh?
The one with Thing in. And that woman whose
Face doesn’t move.
– Who? Her face does move!
Whatshername.
I said, I’ll get confused, looking back,
And so will you.
We’ll both be a bit dotty.
Dottier. Chockful of dots.
And grumpy probably. Grumbling
in our bathchairs on Appley beach.
Or Puckpool.
– Do you think?
Yes.
– I hope you’re right.
Your garden; a freezing March Monday.
Huddled in your coat, the outside damp, mushroomy,
leaves scrunching underfoot –
like autumn –
The last time I saw you.
We asked, and she delivered.
Edana Minghella, just one of my amazing sisters, has finally given in to our demands for a recorded album.
Here’s the press release:
Edana Minghella – ‘Still on my Feet’
Friday 11 November sees the release of the stunning debut album, ‘Still on my Feet’ by Brighton-based jazz singer, Edana Minghella. Featuring stellar contributions from the likes of Guy Barker and Liane Carroll, this classy collection of standard, and not so standard, tunes, marks Edana out as a ‘new’ jazz voice demanding to be heard.
The effortlessly tasteful backing of regular quartet, Mick Smith (piano), Ken Black (drums), Sarah Bolter (saxophones) and Pete Maxfield (double bass) only serves to reinforce the deep vein of cool that underpins each of the nine tracks on offer here.
“I hope people will pick up on the beauty of these tunes,” says Edana. “How jazz can have a wonderful simplicity, that talented musicians can deliver a ‘less is more’ feel to the music, even when there are strong emotions. And I do want people to be moved by the music.”
No danger there. With a close-up and deeply personal rendition of ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’, which explodes into an emotionally shredding Barker trumpet solo at its finale, and a raw, yet stunningly controlled, interpretation of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Case of You’, it is clear that here is a singer, and woman, who has been forced to face some of life’s more painful, and bewildering, episodes head on.
“I chose those songs because they were in Ant’s films, says the singer,” (Edana’s elder brother is the Oscar-winning director, Anthony Minghella, who died tragically back in 2008). “They both have huge emotional resonance for me – and I think you hear it in my voice.”
And yet, being Edana, there’s room for effervescence and fun here too. ‘Fifty Ways To leave Your Lover’ teases its way on a stalking double bass before breaking into an outright 70s’ funk stomp that Stevie Wonder would be proud of, while ‘How Deep Is The Ocean’ simply bursts with the pure celebration of love itself.
Production credits on the album go to award-winning vocalist Liane Carroll. “Working with Liane was amazing,” enthuses Edana. “She is the most brilliant jazz vocalist so to have her involved was a real honour.”
The results of this collaboration speak for themselves on ‘Still on my Feet’.
Edana Minghella marks the album’s release with a string of live dates at: Quay Arts Centre, Newport IOW Friday 11 Nov, Bournemouth Swing Unlimited 30 Nov, Brighton The Brunswick 15 Dec and Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills 17 Dec.
For more information call Andy Strickland on 07803 212 095 or go to: www.edanaminghellajazz.com