Two leading lights of the British jazz scene – composer, arranger and trombonist Callum Au and internationally admired singer Claire Martin – join forces to offer two wonderful, yet very different ensemble projects: ‘Songs and Stories’, a stunningly arranged selection of jazz standards and American Songbook classics, given compelling, sensitive, modern orchestral and big band treatments, and 'Strings Attached', which transforms lavish orchestral works into an intimate chamber setting, offering a fresh perspective on timeless classics.

‘Songs and Stories’ is an album featuring a total of 82 exceptional musicians from the UK, Europe and the USA. Whilst drawing extensive style and influence from the definitive peaks of this genre in past eras, as a live project, Songs and Stories big band arrangements are available with Callum (MD) and Claire (featured vocalist) for 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 6 reeds, piano, bass, guitar, drums and harp. The live song list would include Hello Young Lovers! Let’s Get Lost, The Night We Called It A Day, Stars Fell on Alabama, Folks Who Live, Concentrate on You, Pure Imagination, Too Close for Comfort, I Get Along Without You Very Well, I Never Went Away, Don’t Rain on my Parade with You and the Night & The Music as an Encore.

'Strings Attached' enjoys the masterful arranging of Callum Au and Tommy Laurence and brings together a specially selected ensemble of musicians, chosen for their deep musical sensitivity and refined sound, to reimagine a curated collection of jazz standards, American Songbook classics, and vintage popular songs. At the heart of this collaboration are celebrated UK jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE, the award-winning Tippett Quartet, and multi-talented producer and drummer Matt Skelton, whose background spans vintage and modern jazz.The Tippett Quartet with John Mills (violin), Jeremy Isaac (violin), Lydia Lowndes-Northcott (viola) and Bozidar Vukotic (cello) – described by The Times as ‘life-enhancing’ – have performed and broadcast throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and Mexico and their broad and diverse repertoire highlights the ensemble’s unique versatility.
Callum arranges the music with elegance and emotional nuance, creating a celebration of musical storytelling that is delicate, expressive, and richly evocative.

Claire Martin, awarded the OBE for her services to jazz, is a much-appreciated international singer, equally at home in sold-out concerts on the big stages, such as the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, with a symphony orchestra, as well as regular appearances at intimate, top jazz clubs including Ronnie Scott’s. Over the past fifteen years, Callum Au has established himself as one of the busiest arrangers and orchestrators in Europe. He has had the privilege of writing music for many international artists, including Quincy Jones, Jamie Cullum, Randy Brecker, and ensembles including the SWR Big Band, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Britten Sinfonia.

Together, they breathe new life into jazz standards with two incredible projects that straddle the worlds of Jazz, Orchestral Music and the Great American Songbook.