With her second album, Gilded & Silver, Heather Ward emerges as a mature jazz artist who has found her unique voice.
—- Norman van den Wildenberg, Maxazine
Following the success of her debut solo album Honeysweet, Heather Ward returns with a luminous new collection, Gilded & Silver, now available on all major streaming platforms.
“Her timing is impeccable, her dynamics refined, and her emotional connection to the lyrics genuinely felt….[Ward's] voice, clearly inspired by legends such as Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, possesses a warm, rounded tone that radiates both intimacy and technical expertise.” —Norman van den Wildenberg, Maxazine
“Envision whatever you like—a basement jazz bar in Berlin to high-dollar exclusive black tie affair—and Ward has it covered.”—Coyote Music
“I had several tracks still in the can after releasing Honeysweet,” Ward explains, “so I decided to add a few more and release a second album.” With this spirit of continuity and creativity, Gilded & Silver emerged—blending original compositions with artful arrangements, and once again showcasing Ward’s nuanced voice and deep musical roots. Once again, Heather partnered collaboratively with Dave Houghton, and recorded under the expert mixing of Ben Lange at Lange Recording Studios. The ensemble includes John Hansen and Aidan Ward-Richter (who also helped arrange several tunes) on piano, Moe Weisner and Shaina Ward Siegel on bass, Luca Cartner on drums, with Kate Olson and Jory Tindall on saxophones and flute, and Carey Rayburn on trumpet. The album’s title is drawn from a lyric in one of Ward’s originals, “Into the Music,” a song written in tribute to her Canadian jazz mentor, Hugh Fraser, and her uncle, Joe Edmonds—both of whom passed away from cancer during the pandemic. “Hugh often said, ‘I’m just so into the music,’” recalls Ward. “This track honors both him and my uncle Joe, who were huge musical influences on me.” Ward’s journey from visual arts to jazz began while performing at gallery openings, which led her to formal music studies at Vancouver Community College and Capilano University, where she earned a degree in Jazz Performance. She has trained with legends like Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, and Hugh Fraser through programs including the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Vancouver International Jazz Orchestra Workshops.
Since relocating to Seattle in 1997, Ward has made her mark as a performer, voice teacher, and mentor. She teaches privately as a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and regularly performs at jazz venues, cabarets, and theater productions throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Gilded & Silver stands as both a celebration of personal artistry and a heartfelt homage to the teachers and loved ones who shaped Ward’s musical life.
“Her timing is impeccable, her dynamics refined, and her emotional connection to the lyrics genuinely felt….[Ward's] voice, clearly inspired by legends such as Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, possesses a warm, rounded tone that radiates both intimacy and technical expertise.” —Norman van den Wildenberg, Maxazine
“Envision whatever you like—a basement jazz bar in Berlin to high-dollar exclusive black tie affair—and Ward has it covered.”—Coyote Music
“I had several tracks still in the can after releasing Honeysweet,” Ward explains, “so I decided to add a few more and release a second album.” With this spirit of continuity and creativity, Gilded & Silver emerged—blending original compositions with artful arrangements, and once again showcasing Ward’s nuanced voice and deep musical roots. Once again, Heather partnered collaboratively with Dave Houghton, and recorded under the expert mixing of Ben Lange at Lange Recording Studios. The ensemble includes John Hansen and Aidan Ward-Richter (who also helped arrange several tunes) on piano, Moe Weisner and Shaina Ward Siegel on bass, Luca Cartner on drums, with Kate Olson and Jory Tindall on saxophones and flute, and Carey Rayburn on trumpet. The album’s title is drawn from a lyric in one of Ward’s originals, “Into the Music,” a song written in tribute to her Canadian jazz mentor, Hugh Fraser, and her uncle, Joe Edmonds—both of whom passed away from cancer during the pandemic. “Hugh often said, ‘I’m just so into the music,’” recalls Ward. “This track honors both him and my uncle Joe, who were huge musical influences on me.” Ward’s journey from visual arts to jazz began while performing at gallery openings, which led her to formal music studies at Vancouver Community College and Capilano University, where she earned a degree in Jazz Performance. She has trained with legends like Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, and Hugh Fraser through programs including the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Vancouver International Jazz Orchestra Workshops.
Since relocating to Seattle in 1997, Ward has made her mark as a performer, voice teacher, and mentor. She teaches privately as a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and regularly performs at jazz venues, cabarets, and theater productions throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Gilded & Silver stands as both a celebration of personal artistry and a heartfelt homage to the teachers and loved ones who shaped Ward’s musical life.
