5 Emilie Conway
A singer The Irish Times has described as “a heart stealer with the voice of an angel,” first took to jazz at a gig far from home in an impromptu Chicago jam session with Jon Hendricks and Kurt Elling.
4 Victoria Geelan
Part of the vibrant Derry jazz scene Victoria Geelan, whose influences include Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone, moved far beyond her comfort zone into new territory on her 2014 album Unfit the Picture. Touring with Gay McIntyre last year she excelled on the Danzig/Segal song ‘Scarlet Ribbons,’ a hit for Harry Belafonte way back in the 1950s.
3 Orla Murphy
A sophisticated Stevie Wonder specialist in the Nnenna Freelon mould appearing regularly at Belfast’s Berts jazz bar.
2 Fiona Scott Trotter
Another regular at Berts classic Ella-influenced jazz singer Fiona Scott Trotter appears at Enniskillen venue Jazzeys on 6 February.
1 Dana Masters
The US singer has become a big part of the jazz scene particularly on the wider Belfast picture in the last few years, recording a live album just before Christmas not long on from her swinging sextet album, co-led with saxophonist Meilana Gillard, JazzNBelfast released in 2013.