Biography
Also known as Jean Barton, Jeanie was born in Nottingham, England to Elson and Barbara Barton, both keen actor/singers who met at their local amateur dramatic society; she started to build her own reputation as a performer, using the school’s choir and its annual musical as an opportunity to gather stage skills. Her passion was further encouraged when she successfully auditioned for the National Youth Music Theatre and was cast as a lead role in ‘Warchild’ by Richard Taylor. This new work was developed over 3 years and toured nationally. The experience offered intensive professional musical training along side some wonderful opportunities; working with a 40 piece orchestra and a 100 strong choir in cathedrals across Britain for audiences including Prince Edward, Tony Blair and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
While studying at Warwick University, Jeanie continued to perform in the Warwick Arts Centre and also ventured into direction and composition. Upon graduation she worked professionally as an actress, but since moving to London her career veered mainly towards music and she now works primarily as a jazz based vocalist, lyricist and composer.
Having studied jazz harmony at Morley College in London and bebop improvisation with Anita Wardell, she gigs regularly to increasing acclaim with her quartet and in other jazz ensembles, as well as with the function band ‘Jazz and Cocktails’.
Jeanie has sung backing vocals for Luddy Samms (The Drifters) and works with some of the best musicians on the British Jazz scene today including, guitarist; CJ Berry, pianists; Robin Aspland, Rob Taggart and John China, bassists; Steve Rose, Olly Blanchflower and Coleridge Goode, drummers; Tommy Jones, Mick Parker and Tristan Mailliot and percussionist Danny Bryan. She is also proud to be compere for The Laurie Morgan trio.