Anita Wardell quartet

Born in Guildford, UK, Raised in Australia, Anita’s formative years were spent soaking up the Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter classics. During her teens, she started to get to grips with the complexities of modern Jazz when she discovered Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, and Charlie Parker. At the same time she learned her vocal craft from greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Murphy, Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, Jon Hendricks, and Eddie Jefferson, and many more.

Anita Wardell, is noted for her mesmerising and captivating vocal improvisations and vocalese lyrics to instrumental solos. Anita is a musician who uses the voice as her instrument, displaying precision and agility, mixed with heartfelt emotion.

2021 sees more live performances for Anita. Concerts in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide are scheduled along with plans for the recording of a new album.

“…The gong is richly deserved, the singer’s mercurial musicality and acute sense on improvisational freedom can at times take the breath away.” – Peter Quinn “Jazzwise”

“…Bebop pioneer, Mark Murphy, proclaimed Anita, “a gift from Australia”, adding, “What hits me, is how expressive her ballad singing is. Then she has the courage to scat a ballad or two, not unlike a young lady disciple of the Ben Webster school.” – Mark Murphy Jazz vocalist.

John Harkins: Piano

Jacob Graham: Bass

Andrew Dickeson: Drums