Clare Teal, Jane Monheit, Omar, Annabel Williams, Krystle Warren, Vive, Eoka, Noel McKoy (vcls). Guy Barker (MD) + 40 piece orchestra; Victoria Wood (compere).
The 21st LJF got off to a cracking start with a hand-picked program of quality jazz singing. Over the past few years the Jazz Voice concert has been the traditional official opener to ten days of top jazz performances spread over a large number of venues.
Clare Teal gave us a cracking rendition of Secret Love and anyone who muttered "Not Secret Love again" hadn't heard this version! Surprise MC was Victoria Wood who ensured that the show was not without humour. Jane Monheit came on and not only gave a stunning version of Born To Be Blue but also looked stunning with the most gorgeous red lips I've ever seen!
Next up were a few names that were unfamiliar to me. Omar, This Masquerade; Annabel Williams, I'd Rather Go Blind; Krystle Warren, I Let a Song Go Out of my Heart; Vocal group Vive whose line-up included Emily Dankworth granddaughter of John and Cleo, This is my Father's World; Eoka, Gatekeeper and Noel McKoy who closed the first set with Stevie Wonder's Livin' For the City.
Unfamiliar names but ones we're going to hear more about in the future.
To give a brief respite to the vocals the orchestra gave out with a rocking Trumpet Blues and Cantabile.
Interval and a return to the hospitality area.
The second set began with an extended instrumental - Wayne and Q - based on the lawsuit involving rapper Lil Wayne and Quincy Jones and featured many numbers associated with them including Soul Bossa Nova.
Eoka returned for Lazy Afternoon, Omar told us about The Man and Krystle was joined by Vive for Miss Celie's Blues and Amelia. Jane sang A Gente Merece Ser Feliz; Annabel did You Got the Love; Clare impressed on I'll Never Stop Loving You before Noel, Annabel and Omar rocked us out with a James Brown Medley.
There may have been moments when the jazz content was debateable but we didn't care it was a memorable start to what I'm sure will be a wonderful festival.
Earlier on the free stage Kai Hoffman gave a solid performance that set up the mood for what was to follow.
Lance.
3 comments :
Got enough space mate?
It takes all sorts – and dare I say opinions can even depend on whether best seat tickets come free and with a glass of wine in the organisers’ lounge before the concert and again in the interval for rosy glow. For these concerts I pay my own arm and a leg prices. So I reckon I am entitled to say - after going to most of the previous concerts - that this year’s Jazz Voice was a big disappointment. The clue is in the name: Jazz Voice. Guy Barker, his arrangements and band/orchestra remain a shining light but this year’s choice of songs, singers and clumsy over-amping really jarred. I go to rock and orchestral rock and Vegas schmaltz events, but by choice. This year’s Jazz Voice was an unhappy mix of great jazz (notably Krystle Warren), tinges of Vegas glitz (some from the usually wonderful Jane Monheit) and cover-rock (the James Brown Medley and much more of the same with on London Jazz Festival - Jazz Voice 2013 @ The Barbican Centre
Sorry 'Nony technical glitch! - bear with me, my last PC was an abacus..
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