Dulcie May Moreno (vocals); Stephen Bridgland (guitar)
(Review by Russell)
We've heard her sing at jam sessions, a couple of Jazz Co-op gigs too. Today she made the long trip north from her Garden of England base to play an afternoon duo engagement on the first floor Jazz Cafe Mezzanine in Newcastle Arts Centre. She's from these parts, don't you know? Newcastle born, long-since resident down south, Dulcie May Moreno is her name.
Those who had heard Dulcie sing were of the opinion she was good, this Jazz Cafe gig would more than reaffirm that view. Two sets, largely comprising GASbook numbers with a couple of modern jazz standards for good measure, our ex-pat Geordie and guitarist Stephen Bridgland held the audience spellbound.
From an opening Lullaby of Birdland through to a closing Love Me or Leave Me, Moreno and Bridgland gave a masterclass in the art of intimate jazz performance. You know it's a good gig when you can hear a pin drop - from beginning to end there wasn't a sound, other than the frequent sound of applause. Dulcie revealed she had written lyrics to Wayne Shorter's Footprints and Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments - so, we had in our midst a fantastic vocalist and an accomplished lyricist!
To Moreno's left sat Bridgland with his Epiphone guitar. Tyneside boasts many fine guitarists, they could do worse than check out Mr B. Think Joe Pass, Martin Taylor and the like and you'll begin to get an idea where he's coming from. Several fine solos, not least on Almost Like Being in Love and a swinging Get Out of Town, marked out Bridgland as a genuine A-lister and not a plectrum in sight!
Dulcie May Moreno likes Julie London and Nina Simone to name but two, she likes a blues, a ballad and it's all done with exquisite phrasing and a real sense of time. The word is Ms Moreno will be back in town in the not too distant future. Do yourself a favour - make sure you're there!
Set list: Lullaby of Birdland, Honeysuckle Rose, Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?, Since I Fell for You, Footprints, You and the Night and the Music, Autumn Leaves, Almost Like Being in Love, Let the Good Times Roll, Everybody Knows, Peel Me a Grape, Stolen Moments, I Fall in Love Too Easily, Get Out of Town, Pennies from Heaven, Do I Move You?, Baltimore Oriole, Love Me or Leave Me.
Russell
1 comment :
As an admirer of the vocal styles of Julie London and Chet Baker I have to say that both singer and guitarist excelled themselves. A tremendous 2 hours of music and look forward to their return in the near future. Sublime singing.
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