A great job and all that Jazz

My dream job Jazz singer Toni James has always loved performing, so playing in Liverpool bars are a dream come true You may have been serenaded by the soulful sound of her voice while sipping a cocktail in one of the lounge bars of Liverpool . If you haven’t, you will be soon. Up-and-coming jazz songstress Toni James tours venues in Liverpool , Manchester and Southport , as well as being a frequent entertainer at numerous jazz festivals. Toni is a born performer. She revealed: “I’d always had a love for performing. My aunty was a singer and I always loved to practise with her from an early age. “My first professional job was aboard the T.S.S Topaz sailing across the Med. I spent the Millennium in the Caribbean . This was such an amazing experience- I couldn’t believe I was being paid to travel the world and sing every day”. Now Toni Performs as a duo with the pianist Pete Watson, a five piece jazz band and a seven piece Funk and R’n’B band. You can catch Toni at The Place, Victoria Street , Hannah’s on Thursdays, and The Hope Street Hotel and Blundell Street Music Lounge on various Saturdays. The Toni James Band is also the new resident band at the Tea Factory. As well as all this, she still has found time to record a new album “un:covered”. Toni loves being able to do her own thing. She said:”I love being my own boss. Although managing myself and the band keeps me really busy, the fact that I  don’t have to get up in the mornings and do a nine to five job is fantastic. “I start the day walking the dog and then head to my office to catch up with business calls and e-mails and sometimes a sneaky lunch with friends.” Toni believes Eryka Badu has been a big influence on her style of singing, and was delighted to meet her idol recently. “The advise and inspiration she gave me has kept me strong and focused on my dreams.” Toni also got the chance to sing to Sir Richard Brandson at The Liverpool Empire. So what does the future hold for Toni?”A record deal and a couple of million- fingers crossed!” She laughed. By Michelle Rushton- ECHO Writer