Quadruple Dead Heat @ The Bridge

Ruth Lambert, Zoe Gilby, Lindsay Hannon, Claire Kelly (vcl), Stu Collingwood (pno), Andy Champion (bs), David Francis (dms).

This was indeed a night to remember - three of the area's top singers and an outsider who almost pipped them on the line!

No it wasn't possible to separate them. Each girl has her own sound, her own style and each were totally amazing in their choice of material.

Zoe kicked things off with an original Bell House Hotel - brilliant lyric, then there was The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines - a memorable track from Joni Mitchell's Mingus album. I don't think I've heard Zoe sing better - she was up for it.

Follow that must have ran through every one's minds as Claire Kelly took to the stage - the sacrificial lamb to the slaughter.

This time round it was the lamb who slayed the butcher!

Whisper Not set the stall out - Claire was in the game. How many singers do you know who will attempt Gloomy Sunday? Who will do an uppish Pagan Love Song? - inspired by Jo Stafford, said Claire. The girl is too young to have even heard of Jo Stafford!

Interval time and a look around reveals a very well attended gig. Lot's of friends old and new and a few special ones.

Third set: Lindsay Hannon takes centre stage. Lindsay keeps the bar at the highest level particularly on The End of a Love Affair. But there are others, each one a gem, that somehow slipped through my subconscious. Down With Love didn't though - it jumped - Yip Harburg would be happy.

And so it was down to Ruth to draw things to a close which she duly did even playing some guitar chords along the way.

This had been a splendid evening. Apart from the girls, Stu Collingwood was an absolute monster on piano - Stu Rules OK? Ditto Andy on bass whilst Dave, although not featured prominently, did everything that was asked.

It was brilliant I cannot say more.

Photos.

Lance.

Next week Djangology replace the advertised Carpus Trio.