Belinda Voshtina (vocals) & Mark Williams (guitar)
(Review by Russell)
Late afternoon the last knockings of an Atlantic storm
lashed Tyneside on its way out to the North Sea. Newcastle’s night time economy
would suffer as a result. Pubs and clubs would be quiet, inner city residents,
for once, would be able to hear themselves think. A case of wishful thinking!
Pubs doing a brisk trade, a Happy Mondays sold out gig at the Academy,
takeaways re-fuelling the sodden and the Jazz Café busy with few seats to be
had.
Belinda Voshtina and Mark Williams were putting
together a last minute set list for their first outing as a duo. Williams
looked at your drowned rat correspondent saying: It’s still raining, then?
Perceptive. Key and tempi of little concern, vocalist Voshtina knew guitar
virtuoso Williams would come up with the goods. And so to work.
It’s Almost Like Being in
Love, Agua de Beber, There Will
Never Be Another You – good material; Voshtina’s rich, resonant, multi
lingual vocals, Williams, accompanist of choice to the very best on the scene.
Ain’t No Sunshine (correct!), Georgia, Nature Boy, Autumn Leaves (millions of ‘em!) and Comes Love. Voshtina sang boldly, her
voice projecting with ease, the occasional verse in Portuguese, a winning smile
never far from her lips. A lower register At
Last – something of a showstopper in a large scale production, in the
intimate setting of the Jazz Café a real knockout – and a swinging Lullaby of Birdland with Joe Pass (Mr M
Williams) excelling!
The choice of material familiar, perhaps advisable for
their first duo gig together, held the attention of most, most of the time (the
usual barfly hubbub intruding from time to time).
Black Orpheus – Voshtina’s enviable command of Portuguese
at its best – and as a finale, a rockin’ Route
66. Belinda had a great time. She thanked the ‘lovely’ Mark Williams. A big
thank you, to you, Belinda and the ‘lovely’ Mr Williams.
Russell.
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