Kathryn Lowdon (vcl); James Harrison (keys); Paul Gowland (saxes); David Gray (tmb); Elliot Todd (tpt); Katy Trigger (bs gtr); Steve Doyle (dms); Jasmin Storey (backing vcls).
(Review by Lance).
A curate's egg - the highs were high, very high, - the lows were somewhat less. Lowdon has an amazing range. Those of us old enough to remember Yma Sumac (and I may be the only one) will recall the Peruvian songstress' ability to span 5 octaves. Lowdon works in that dimension! When she hits it, it's game, set, and match. When she doesn't it's 0-6, 0-6..
Tonight it was mainly the former, although there were a few tiebreakers!
However, bearing in mind that this was the band's first ever live gig, it was an impressive performance and the dancers who eventually took to the floor appreciated the opportunity to shake a leg or three!
It began with a vamp till ready riff "triggering" an abnormal change in my heartbeat, or so I thought, but no, just sitting too close to the speaker - Katy can achieve that effect without playing a note!
Then on came KL, I Can Make You Feel Good she sang and we did feel good. On keyboard, James hit the right notes along with some better ones and the horns chipped in with solos and riffs..
Bewitched was an unexpected extract from the GASB. Verse sung with James' sympathetic accompaniment, before going into a medium swing blast with the band then back to James for the bridge then stomping off again on this, one of the most theatrical of Larry Hart's lyrics.
And indeed, theatre is an integral part of Lowdon's stagecraft, e.g. "Good morning heartache, sit down" and, right on cue, she sat down!
The occasion being the launch of her EP - Cake - not surprisingly, the most polished numbers were the 5 originals from the disc. What was surprising was the low-key approach to promoting them, in fact I didn't see anyone selling them!
Other material included a Beatles/Stones mix of All the Lonely People and Satisfaction; Bang Bang, by Cher; Cry me a River (natch!) and an Aretha Franklyn tribute.
The band, augmented for the gig, did the business as expected with the horns filling in the gaps with solos and riffs. Harrison, as ever, the ace accompanist, Trigger the heartbeat and Doyle the lynchpin.
Oh yes and a special word for Storey who, on the final encore, was promoted from backing singer to duo partner and justly so.
An excellent gig but still, I feel, a work in progress.
Lance.
2 comments :
I remember Yma Sumac, what category does that place me in? don't answer that!!
Me too - I also remember Minnie Ripperton!
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