About Helen McDonald
A World of Music
On the Jazz, Soul, Funk, Afrobeat, Highlife scene, Helen McDonald’s unique voice has sung and recorded with a wide range of artists, musicians and bands; including Roy Ayers, David Murray, Asian Dub Foundation, Keith Waithe, Orphy Robinson (MBE) and Yaaba Funk.
“I have been a musician all my life. Singing gets me through the hard times. Writing helps me to express this world around me. Meeting heroes like the man Gil Scott Heron have been highlights of my career. I bought his book and he told me to sing one of his songs and I did cover it and release a 7inch Vinyl record “Lady Day and John Coltrane” – Helen McDonald
This Derby-born singer plays with Future Groove, a psychedelic jazz, rare groove and funk band that does its thing regularly at some of London’s hippest underground clubs.
That thing being what funk was invented for which is to throw down the baddest licks, tightest rhythms and the rawest vocals. With music ranging from Roy Ayers to Minnie Ripperton. From Gil Scott Heron and Nina Simone, to their own original compositions, Future Groove knows how to shake the roof.
Lead vocalist Helen McDonald’s powerful and gritty vocals anchor the journey from jazz to funk to soul to blues.
She is currently touring the UK with Time Travelling with the Jazz Queens.