Gavin Skeggs (UK)
vocals
Gavin Skeggs is a London born British vocalist who enjoys collaborating with professional bands and musicians from the UK and beyond. His performances are wide ranging, from duo & trio gigs to big band, theatre and festival stages, with experience of performing throughout Europe.
High profile gigs include several performances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London) and Pink, Limp Bizkit and Status Quo support slots.
With a rich, strong and versatile vocal sound, Gavin also has extensive experience as a session vocalist over multiple genres, including projects with BAFTA nominated composer Richard Jaques, recently recording backing vocals for Janet Devlin’s album ‘Confessional’ (2020) and featuring on The Fontanas 2021 vinyl release. In 2018 he provided backing vocals for Swiss band ZiBBZ at the Eurovision in Lisbon.
But his first love is Jazz and and here his vocal sound is inspired by the art of the original jazz voice masters such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
At 18 he co-wrote and performed a prize-winning song entry for The Daily Telegraph's Young Jazz Composer competition. He went on to study music at University in Liverpool where he majored in voice and composition.
While training his voice in the classical tradition under the tutorship of Joyce Ellis (BBC Singers) he continued to perform jazz with the Liverpool University Big Band. At this time Gavin was also fortunate to sing with UK Jazz vocalist and BBC broadcaster Claire Martin OBE.
Gavin sang regularly with the Liverpool Hope University Chamber Choir, including performances at both of the city's famous cathedrals. With lead roles in operas by both Gluck and Arne his baritone voice was, and is still, developing.
One of his first professional engagements after graduating was performing in a short run of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera.
The advantage of this mixed vocal heritage continues to serve Gavin well in an industry that increasingly looks to other genres and styles for variety and new musical inspiration.
Gavin has long been a supporter of music in education and has worked for periods of time as a lecturer in Further Education colleges (16+ years). He has also worked as a classroom music teacher with children aged 3 to 11.
In recent years he has been back to Prague several times as an instructor on both the summer Czech Jazz Workshop and CJW Echo in the autumn.
More: http://gavskeggs.com/
