LEO RECORDS: ffr 5004: Melissa Stott

Melissa Stott - vocals
Special guest Stjepko "Steve" Gut - trumpet
Davide Brillante - guitar
Nico Menci - piano
Pietro Ciancaglini - bass
Alessandro Minetto - drums

"... vocalist, composer and arranger, ... one of the most interesting and freshest new voices on the jazz scene."
"Fresh and innocent, but at the same time warm and sultry."

Melissa Stott, jazz vocalist, was born in Manchester (UK) in 1972 to a Singaporean-Chinese mother and an English father who played jazz piano and organ. She started learning classical piano at the age of 6, cello at 12 and folk harp at 13 with May Corsair and Lorna Wareham, taking individual lessons in harmony and composition.

Melissa's singing career started relatively recently and rather by accident, in 1998, when she met Max Chirico, pianist and trumpet player, now her husband. After a gig he coaxed her to get up and sing. "I was probably a disaster," says Melissa, but her husband heard something special that night and Melissa went on to study with esteemed musicians such as Barry Harris, Stjepko (Steve) Gut, Dennis Jeter, Andy Farber and LaVerne Jackson. Melissa's sound has been described as being fresh and innocent, but at the same time warm and sultry.

Melissa has written a large number of original compositions, and her CD "Why Now" showcases tunes such as "Suspicion", "Ella", "Anyone Can See That I'm In Love" and "Mami's Kitchen." She says that she has no set formula for writing music and lyrics, although she does carry a small manuscript notebook with her in case sudden inspiration strikes, and is extremely attached to her 1930s baby grand piano, inherited from her father.