Elizabeth Shepherd pushes the boundaries of what is considered conventional jazz, all the while creating a sound completely her own. From the Jazz Cafe in London, England, to the Cotton Club in Tokyo, Elizabeth has captivated audiences and critics on both sides of the pond. She was recently nominated for her first Juno in the Vocal Jazz Album of the Year category. Elizabeth's debut album, Start to Move continues to receive critical acclaim and made it into the Top 3 Jazz albums of 2006 as voted by the listeners of the Gilles Peterson show on BBC Radio 1.

Although Start to Move would be found in the jazz section at your local music shop, Elizabeth's blend of jazz-funk, soul, blues and samba reaches far beyond just the jazz massive. Besides is a collection of dancefloor remixes, b sides, exclusives and unreleased gems that will appeal to all music lovers.

Besides begins with Elizabeth belting out her new single, a bossa-tinged rendition of Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun". This up-tempo, feel-good, soundtrack to the summer features her Trio, Scott Kemp on Bass, Colin Kingsmore on Drums, and Elizabeth on Piano and Vocals. Next up, highly sought after UK Tru Thoughts producer Nostalgia 77, gives 'Reversed' some tough drums, finger-snapping bass and a heavier, funk-influenced sound. 'Just Getting By' is Elizabeth's take on the sad state of affairs that most artists have to face, as she sings about having to "wait tables just to make bread". Croatia's Eddy Meets Yannah of Compost Records, turn 'Just Getting By' out on a twisted brokenbeat tip but drench the track with layers of soulful keys giving it that warm, blessed out vibe. Prolific Toronto producer Alister Johnson takes the track 'Circles' and completely reworks the entire song into a soulful, bumpin', jazz groove. He drops a deep and funky bassline, adds a dope hip-hop beat, some complex synths and new instruments including live saxophones performed by Arthur Kerekes. Tokyo's Daisuke Tanabe of Fluid Ounce, known for his signature electronic bleeps and dubby beats, actually samples and loops Elizabeth humming at the beginning of crowd favourite 'Georges Dilemma' and uses it as the bassline on this future-jazz remix. 'Start to Move' is the title track of the album where Elizabeth pays homage to the jazz greats of the past, but remains rooted in her own style. Rising UK producer Natural Self takes this gorgeous tune and turns it into a jazz-funk dancefloor stomper with stunning horns and a dirty, bumpin', bassline. 'Reversed' gets a second working over by Toronto multi-talented producers, Circle Research as they flip the track on a hip-hop tip, dropping sound effects and scratches - this was the demo before they even recorded the album version. 'Georges Dilemma' also receives an alternative take with a dancefloor oriented jazz version. Other exclusives include Elizabeth's late-night jam of Pierre Leduc's 'Soya', the stunning version of Chick Corea's 'Open Your Eyes', as well as her live-in-session recording of 'Just Getting By' for Gilles Peterson's Worldwide radio show on BBC Radio 1. Also included is her new song 'One Trump Card', a beautiful and bluesy tune that will send shivers running up and down your spine.

As far as being a "jazz performer", Elizabeth does not count herself as one to be defined by a particular genre; her music comes straight from the soul; it's not just what she does, it's what she loves. Besides picks up from where Start to Move left off, maintaining jazz aesthetic while fusing the original recordings with fresh new dancefloor focused sounds and styles, redefining the way people think about jazz.

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