In musical circles there is a lot of kudos in being signed to Verve Records, a top drawer jazz imprint, renowned for its cutting-edge jazz catalogue. So there’s no pressure then on a 23-year-old from Nottingham then!
Released on July 16, Duncan’s brand of jazz is certainly influenced by the vocal tones of Nina Simone on a dark day, and her song writing as cheery as Paul Buchanan and some would say Radiohead. But despite the bleakness of her subject matter, Duncan captivates with her intelligent and descriptive stories. The enigmatic title track Devil In Me takes a hard look at a destructive relationship, Pick Me Up Bar is inspired by the legendary jazz man Gil Scott-Heron, while Uncomfortable Silence depicts the fall out following a broken romance, of being broke and forced to live in a squalid bed-sit.
So although hardly an album of choice for a fun-packed evening with loved ones, Devil In Me can be appreciated in tiny bite-size chunks on a rainy afternoon.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here