GIJF Day 1 – Sage Gateshead: Clare Teal And Her Hollywood Orchestra

Clare Teal (vocals, compere); Guy Barker(conductor, trumpet); Orchestra with string section; Ben Cipolla, Cherise Adam-Burnett (vocals)

(Review by Ann Alex)

This was a hugely enjoyable start to the jazz festival. Ms Teal paid tribute to various singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Nina Simone and Peggy Lee, via the music of composers including Cole Porter and Billy Strayhorn. What with Ms Teal’s engaging enthusiasm and the skills of Guy Barker and the orchestra, we knew from the start that this would be good, but it was even better. The orchestra gave a sterling performance, enhanced to give a ‘Hollywood’ feel by the 7-strong string section, and contributions from soloists such as Jason Rebello on piano, Paul Booth on tenor sax, Colin Skinner on alto sax, and of course Guy Barker on trumpet. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite catch the name of the soloist on trombone.

And what’s more, we were introduced to new young vocalists, Cherise Adam-Burnett, in a shimmering golden dress, and Ben Cipolla, who added to his performance by playing guitar alone at the front of the stage to accompany a quiet version of I Only Have Eyes For You. Other numbers sung included the opener from Clare Teal It Might As Well Be Spring; Feelin’ Good (re Nina Simone); Secret Love; From This Moment On. Ben entered (he was discovered whilst busking a Michael Jackson song) with Young At Heart. After a spirited Sans Souci, with the audience joining in the ‘Go, Go, Go’ chorus, enter Cherise with Stormy Weather, and a vocalists threesome with clapping for Hernando's Hideaway to round off the first set.

Three of us didn’t quite get back in time and we found ourselves listening to Ms Teal behind closed doors, singing something in French. Cherise sang an Ella song, Invitation, followed by a plaintive love song penned by Clare Teal – she should write more. Then came  Cole Porter’s Let’s Do It; I’ll Never Be Free; then the fun of a vocal trio doing the Boswell sisters Roll On Mississippi, and Clare’s version of Mack The Knife.She didn’t forget the words as Ella had done during a performance of that song.

The well-deserved encore became 2 songs, Peggy Lee’s The Folks who Live On The Hill and Singin’ In the Rain, including the verse. It just remains to mention that Sage 1, level 1, was almost full and the technicians had done well with Hollywood style lighting, red, green strip lights, alternating with round blue lights.

Ann Alex