There can’t be many singers so passionately loyal and dedicated to a type of music as Cate Cody is.

The Gloucestershire singer is a jazz aficionado, and the way she speaks about the genre is a clear sign of her love for it.

“For me, jazz is deep and endlessly interesting. It’s the music I want to listen to, sing and dance to.

“It can be mellow, emotional, exciting, inspirational, fun and passionate – what’s not to like?”

Cate has been living in Gloucestershire for 25 years and singing all her life, with her first solo at just six years old.

She became a professional singer in 2003, after discovering the genre she now calls home.

“In my early twenties, I started singing with a group of friends,” continued Cate.

“Someone said to me: “you should sing jazz, it would suit your voice.” I had only heard of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, so I went to the library and borrowed some CDs.

“I listened for a week or two, thinking it was all a bit the same, then something clicked, and I fell in love with jazz and never looked back. I even chucked out all of my other music, it felt so bland in comparison.”

Jazz can be a daunting genre for many, but with such a deep and rich history there is so much to discover, as shown by Cate as she runs through her favourite performers.

She continued: “My favourite jazz is small band swing and I've never stopped listening to Billie (Holiday). I listen to a lot of trios (piano, bass and drums), swinging like mad, or gently and elegantly playing ballads.

“Favourites include Dudley Moore, Ellis Larkins and I still love my Fats Waller records too. Singer wise, there is no other to touch Billie Holiday. I also love Anita O’Day – how she used her voice and her timing and musicality. Blossom Dearie is great too, a very underrated pianist as well.


“I slightly envy those who love all genres, but other than a handful of songs and some classical and opera, I just don't get the same buzz that I do from jazz, no matter how hard I try.”

This month, Cate will be performing at both the Roses Theatre on Sunday 3rd March, and the Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn, on Sunday 17th March.

“The great thing about these two forthcoming shows is the difference between them,” she explained.

“The material I’ll be singing from at the Roses will come mostly from ‘The Great American Songbook’ – classic songs that virtually play themselves. I’ll have the extraordinary Dave Newton accompanying me (voted best jazz pianist fifteen times) and super bass player John Day who has toured all over with the best of them (Acker Bilk, Chris Barber).

“Our Tithe Barn picnic supper gig is always great fun and features the larger band – we will be playing some less well-known material, perhaps less sophisticated songs but just as hot and super swinging.”

Looking forward, Cate has a packed schedule with private parties, weddings, festivals and more gigs lined up for the year.

Her latest album ‘I Hear Music’ was released last year to rave reviews and is one of her proudest achievements in music.

“It was a project that I spent over six months planning – although we recorded it in one session.

“It features a top line-up from amongst the best musicians on the British jazz scene. Dave Newton on piano, Trevor Whiting, clarinet and saxophones, Dave Green on double bass and Steve Brown on drums. It consists of a mixture of well-loved songs with unusual verses and material not often heard.

“I realise that I am very lucky to be able to sing jazz professionally, and I’m very grateful to all my loyal fans and the exceptional musicians that I get to work with.”