A TWIST of fate resulted in a Swindon choir singing backing vocals on a new record for a well known jazz singer.

Kim Cypher regularly sings and plays saxophone in Swindon and it was during one of her gigs that she met Sheila Harrod from the Kentwood Show Choir, who was sitting in the front row.

During a pause in the concert Sheila whispered to her friend that she wished Kim would sing It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, because that was the song sung at her husband’s funeral and had a special place in her heart.

As the first notes floated across the stage of the Royal Oak in Swindon, Sheila could not believe her ears - it was her song.

Sheila chatted to Kim after the gig and discovered that the musician hardly ever sang that song and had included it on a whim for that night only.

“We discovered that we both believe in fate,’’ said Kim. “I told Sheila I was looking for a choir to feature on my new record and now we have become friends.’’

The track entitled Rising From Dust is a totally new direction for the jazz singer, as it is in collaboration with a rock band led by BD Lenz from New York. Serendipity was again working on the day Kim met the guitarist.

“Again it was weird, I was doing the sound check for my gig and this American band walked in. We had been double booked so we ended up singing together and BD said that next time he was over here we should go on tour,’’ said Kim. “And that’s what happened this Easter and he is over here at the moment.’’

The song was recorded in Swindon by Juanjo Lopez Vidal. “It was crazy, first B.D. and the band got their track down, I did the vocals and then The choir was the icing on the cake. It was lovely working with people of such a high standard,’’ said Kim.

Sheila and her singers were thrilled to take part in the recording and on Tuesday, July 17 they will join Kim and BD Lenz to sing the song live at the Royal Oak in Old Town, at the jazz evenings organised by Evie EM-Jay. Sheila said: “It’s such a coup for Kentwood. I love listening to her. I was blown away by the whole thing, it all happened so quickly. I am 74 and big things are still coming to me.”

A couple of years ago Kim and her drummer husband Mike decided to follow their dreams, give up their day jobs to record Kim’s debut album, Make Believe. They haven’t looked back, including a private concert for the prime minister Theresa May. They are currently working on Kim’s second album which will include Rising From The Dust.

Kim will be the special guest at this year’s Kentwood Cracker Christmas show at the Wyvern Theatre.