The problem facing vocalists singing standards is that most of the audience have already heard them done by the great and the good. Taking Sinatra as an example, there's probably been a zillion clones but, the number who actually got close can probably be counted in single figures.
To her credit, Debra Milne doesn't do cloning. Like Ole Blue Eyes, she does it her way so tonight we had a choice selection of tunes delivered in her inimitable style.
The theme, as the band name implied, centred around songs that depict those emotions which, with the exception of a few novelty numbers, applies to just about every song ever written! My personal favourite from tonight's selection was Am I Blue? although I do prefer Dinah Washington's version as opposed to the Sheila Jordan version from which Debra found her inspiration (via YouTube).
Admittedly there were occasions when her pitching was maybe a quarter-tone out but, then again, so was June Christy's and she, Christy, was a jazz legend!
With Stu and Steve providing the support and the solos it was an evening based around the good old GASbook plus some modern jazz standards. Stu was, as always, brilliant whereas Steve was equally brilliant on tenor and exceptionally good on his curvy soprano.
I missed the last one/two numbers as I had a bus to catch, a cat to be fed and washing to get in before the impending overnight rain - a man's work person's work is never done!
Next week it's guitar duo Bradley Johnston & James Birkett. Lance
Lullaby of Birdland; Silver's Serenade; God Bless the Child; It Ain't Necessarily So; Am I Blue?; Corcovado; Perdido; You Don't Know What Love is; Four; Born to be Blue; Stella by Starlight; Sunflower; Well You Needn't; Losing You; One Note Samba; Save Your Love For Me
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