A SINGER who has previously won the Best British Vocalist category at the British Jazz Awards, will be showing off her talents when she comes to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall.

Claire Martin won the Best British Vocalist category in 1995 at the British Jazz Awards.

She then took her group to Ronnie Scotts to make her first live record, titled Off Beat.

It was in fact a great year for Claire, as in January 1995, she made her American debut with four sell-out shows at the Nest in Washington DC to great acclaim from the Washington Post and the Village Voice.

Claire achieved instant recognition with her 1992 debut album, The Waiting Game which was chosen as one of the Times' records of the year.

Her last album, Too Darn Hot was released more than a year ago, and she is set to release her next album in November this year.

The new album will have around 12 tracks, but she has not started recording it yet.

"It can take three days with musicians and recording vocals," she says.

"I sing original material, as well as songs ranging from Joni Mitchell to Rod Stewart."

Claire says she comes from a working class background.

"We always had a piano, but nobody could play it, so we'd bash around on it," she says.

"I went to stage school in Surrey and I realised that singing was my strength.

"I was a good tap dancer, but an awful ballet dancer."

Claire, who was born in Wimbledon in 1967, attended The Doris Halford Stage School from the age of five to 15 after school hours.

"I used to bunk school, I was always at The Wimpy," she says. "I did all right at school but I was into music.

Claire studied singing with Verona Chard in London, and Marilyn Johnson in New York, before singing aboard the QE2.

After returning to dry land, she formed her first quartet at the age of 21.

She is currently living in Brighton and says it's a great place to be.

"It's fantastic, a brilliant place to hang out," she says.

"It's like London by the sea with gorgeous homosexual men that sell you clothes!"

Claire has a keen interest in all areas of popular music, from jazz to pop.

On her records, songs by Harold Arlen and Irving Berlin, rub shoulders with the likes of Stevie Wonder.

Claire has performed throughout Europe and North America, at festivals, in Germany, France, The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In addition to her busy schedule, Claire presents Jazz Line-Up on BBC Radio 2.

Claire will be playing Huntingdon Hall, at CrownGate, Worcester with her musicians on Thursday, April 22.

Tickets for the gig, cost £12 in advance, or £11 concessions. For tickets, call the box office on 01905 611427.