Emma Pask

Sydney-based Emma Pask is one of Australia's most popular and most accomplished jazz singers. She is a naturally talented vocalist who loves singing great songs with outstanding musicians to appreciative audiences.

That is what Emma has been doing ever since she was 16. That's when James Morrison did a concert at her high school, and recognised something special when she took a turn at the microphone. In the blink of an eye, she was the featured vocalist in James' band, and was soon performing with him at festivals and other venues around Australia and internationally. Highlights include a concert for a huge audience at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, a concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and a concert in China with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Emma's 20-year association with James Morrison continues to be revived now and then, but these days she maintains a busy schedule as a bandleader or guest vocalist in her own right. She has released three successful albums, has regularly performed on various TV shows - and won a lot of fans after deciding to be a contestant on Season 2 of 'The Voice', where Ricky Martin was an undisguised fan, as well as a coach and judge.

She has performed at jazz festivals from Wangaratta to Ascona (Switzerland), and in January had the thrill of taking her band to Cuba, to perform at the Havana Jazz Festival. Expect Emma to present a program of swinging jazz standards, with a bias to the latin jazz sound that she loves so much (including a number of samba or bossa nova classics that she enjoys singing with the original Portugese lyrics), and perhaps even a few originals.

For her first performance at Bird's Basement, Emma will be accompanied by Melbourne-based pianist Sam Keevers (whose unerring accompaniment and masterful soloing have been assets prized by such leading vocalists as Vince Jones. Kate Ceberano, Alison Wedding, Daniel Merriweather, Gary Pinto, Guy Sebastian, Renee Geyer, Katie Noonan, and Joe Camilleri). Completing the lineup will be TBA (bass) and TBA (drums).