We don't see many female jazz singers of this calibre here in York so it was a pleasure to go along to this Sunday afternoon treat. This was a one set only gig which lasted one and a quarter hours kicking off with the dynamic and exciting Gareth Williams playing Cole Porter's Everything I Love a new one on me but with the Porter stamp all over it. Gareth had forgotten his music actually but no worries as here was a jazz pianist who had it all in his head and at his fingertips. Described elsewhere as a "triumph of Welsh wizardry" he was completly wrapped up in his work.
Claire then came on looking wonderfully casual in black setting the standard with a bluesy rendition of another new one on me Breaking up my Duron Shoes.
Two Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen numbers followed. The gorgeous I Thought About You and the equally entrancing But Beautiful. Claire's voice; full of light and shade, bending notes, enthralling to watch , always in command. She then gave us the Burton Lane/ Alan J Lerner's Come Back To Me a favourite of hers from her younger days listening to Sammy Davis's version.
More goodies included A Weaver of Dreams Carmen McRae style, and When I Fall in Love from a Richard Rodney Bennett arrangement. My particular fave followed It Could Happen to You. After a bit of short seasonal fare with Winter Wonderland and The Christmas Song which she invited us to singalong with, it was back to Cheek to Cheek with a nod to Strictly, and finally a storming Perdido (Spanish for lost), this being her best number in my opinion. What I liked about Claire was the way she introduced each number by naming the composer/lyricist. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in November.
Liz.
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