Clare Teal @ the Gala Theatre, Durham - Feb. 14

Clare Teal (vocal); Jason Rebello (piano); Tim Thornton (bass); Ben Reynolds (drums).

(Review by Lance)

After the final do-wa-do-wa-do-wa brought the classic Ellington number - and the show -  to a close the capacity audience at Durham's Gala Theatre stood up as one and ovated in appreciation. Deservedly so, Clare Teal had just wowed them as she invariably does with her warm and, often funny, show.

I use the word funny as, should she - God forbid - ever give up music a  career in stand-up would pay the bills. Not that that is likely, after last night's performance. Her jazz chops are still the tops even though Barnsley's First Lady appears to be dipping her toes into more contemporary material.

Good on her! However, whatever she touches the jazz element is never far away.

A Wonderful Day Like Today set the mood and who cared about the threat of Hurricane Dennis? This was a wonderful day despite the, hopefully not prophetic, title that followed - Nothing's Gonna be Alright. You've Changed was another sad song of a broken relationship but so beautifully sung.

Blossom Dearie was represented by They Say It's Spring and Maxine Sullivan with Charlie Shavers' arrangement of If I Had a Ribbon Bow originally done for Maxine with the John Kirby Sextet.

The tempo upped dramatically with The Way You Look Tonight giving a new meaning to the line "Keep that breathless charm"! The trio driving her on - my favourite number of the night although most of the other tunes weren't far behind.

A Paul McCartney number that I didn't recognise, then Tainted Love and a surprisingly effective I Will Survive.

During the interval, as the John Duck pub appeared to be closed, I stayed in the theatre bar for a glass (plastic) of a pale ale that was potable.

Second half opened with The Song is You followed by Elton John's We All Fall in Love Sometimes, Lost on You, It's Raining then the inevitable My Funny Valentine. Not my favourite Rogers and Hart song but, after hearing Clare's version, it could be.

Let's Do It has a zillion verses yet our singer managed to produce a line of her own - "Beatles and Animals Do it"!

We were in the home straight now, Mack the Knife à la Ella in Berlin, Elvis' Don't and, finally It Don't Mean a Thing.

A final word on the trio without who nothing would have happened. Rebello is undoubtedly at the pointy end of the jazz pianists' echelon. He swings, he's sensitive and sympathetic to his surroundings. Indeed the same could be said of both Thornton and Reynolds - more than mere accompanists but iconic figures in their own right. For good measure they even provided some backing vocals - on the Elvis number Clare referred to them as The Jasonaires!

After the show, Clare took time out to pose for a photo with an aging blogger!

Lance.