Julie Tippetts has long been recognised as one of the foremost European vocalists in the field of jazz and improvised music. Her recording and performing career moved from the early years of soul / R&B with Brian Auger to her membership in the 1970's of leading jazz / improvisation groups such as the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and Keith Tippett's Centipede and Ark.

Julie's extended use of the voice as an instrument has led her to develop a vocal technique beyond the boundaries of a conventional singer. She has explored the range of vocal possibilities in groups such as 'Voice' (formed in 1976 with Maggie Nicols, Phil Minton and Brian Ely) and in duos and small ensembles with a host of influential instrumentalists including her pianist / composer / improviser husband Keith Tippett. Work with larger groups has also featured regularly in her career, from early days with Centipede and Ark to collaborating with an opera singer, a show singer and 15 instrumentalists from Britain and (ex-) Soviet Georgia in the Mujician / Georgian Ensemble project in 1991 and the more recent 30 piece Dedication Orchestra.

Her numerous recordings, which feature many of her own compositions as well as extensive improvisations, include '1969' - her first solo recording for Polydor; 'Sunset Glow' (RCA 1974), 'Sweet and s'Ours' with Maggie Nicols on FMP in 1978; and 'Couple in Spirit' with Keith Tippett on Editions EG in 1988. Her latest project, still in progress, is a full solo album of her own compositions and improvisations on which her voice is multi tracked to showcase the full extent of her powers of expression and imagination. Stylistically, Julie Tippetts' voice can range from the soulful to the serene, from the skittish to the mystical, all achieved with a control and energy that makes her one of Europe's leading vocal improvisers.

In recent years Julie has undertaken several arts-in education projects and workshops (both with schoolchildren and adult groups) employing her natural ability to communicate to encourage others to realise the potential of their voices. For several years she has taught at the Dartington International Summer School.

Impressions of Cape Town

Every day of my life will be touched by the experience of South Africa.
Every day of my life IS touched by the experience of South Africa. How privileged - how honoured. I worked musically in three totally different environments:

• a workshop that didn't exist - suddenly did - all five of us!!
• a 10 to 15 piece workshop was only 8 - but a poignant experience!!
• and a 15 piece workshop became in reality a 65 piece choir who gave me a taste of Heaven!!

I was only asked four weeks ago to join this wonderful entourage of sensitive, caring, creative and diligently hardworking educators whom I had never met before. A bond has been cemented - long live concrete!

Julie Tippetts