Windmills

Jacqui Dankworth

Acclaimed vocalist, songwriter and stage actress Jacqui Dankworth MBE is pleased to bring you Windmills, a stunning new release, fueled by Memphis-born pianist Charlie Wood’s impeccable arrangements for Dankworth’s trio as well as the BBC Big Band, the Carducci String Quartet and the Bedazzle! string section. Following up on her adventurous 2022 outing with the Brodsky Quartet, Rocking Horse Road (“beautifully crafted … imparting rich layers of interpretive meaning” Gramophone), Dankworth sets her sights on a widely varied repertoire for Windmills, the centerpiece of which is Michel Legrand’s “Windmills of Your Mind,” serving as the title track.

Ms. Dankworth comes from an illustrious musical family, sometimes even referred to as “the Dankworth dynasty” or “UK jazz royalty”. Her parents, Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth, were a musical power couple who transcended boundaries of genre, nationality and race to become genuine jazz superstars. Her brother, bassist and composer Alec Dankworth, is one of the most in-demand players in the business, having performed and recorded with Dave Brubeck, Van Morrison, Clark Terry, Mel Tormé, and many others.

Jacqui is radiant and boundlessly expressive on Windmills, taking to these varied sonic environments with polish and ease and a deep sense of connection to every line of every song. Wood’s arrangements are captured in their heightened nuance and stylistic flourish, bringing out the best in every player involved.