Georgia Cécile: Only the Lover Sings @ Queen's Hall, Edinburgh - Nov. 26

Storm Arwen wasn't going to put a stop to Georgia Cécile's Only the Lover Sings album launch, although last month an American superstar did bring about a postponement of the original date. October 16 should have been Georgia Cécile's big day but, when Gregory Porter came calling, it proved impossible to say: No. And so a profusely apologetic Georgia begged forgiveness from her many fans for rescheduling the concert saying it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open the show for Mr P, at the Royal Albert Hall, no less. 

And so to Friday (Nov. 26). Travel plans amended, hotel reservations changed, weather changed. Ah, yes, the weather...Mid-October, autumnal sunshine, late November, a scene approaching something like Armageddon. The walk up the road from Waverley Station to Queen's Hall proved challenging. Head down into a gale force wind, would anyone make it to the venue? Amazingly they did. A full house greeted our award-winning Glaswegian singer. Georgia Cécile and Euan Stevenson have forged an enduring songwriting partnership: the music embracing elements of the Great American Songbook, the lyrics as good as any contemporary lyricist you care to name. One sensed the evening was going to be something special. 

The Month of May opened the show, the brilliance of Cécile's vocals, Stevenson's piano playing (at the Queen's Hall's Steinway) and the equally brilliant contributions from the SNJO boys - Ryan Quigley, Konrad Wiszniewski, Michael Owers - and an ace rhythm section comprising Glasgow Conservatoire trained Irishman Conor Murray and Chicagoan Max Popp ensured the evening couldn't be anything other than a triumph. And if that wasn't enough, Seonaid Aitken lead a stellar string quintet. 

The sound balance couldn't have been better, all twelve musicians were heard with great clarity of sound. An early highlight, Come Summertime, could have been written by, take a guess - Ellington? Gershwin? Porter? No, try Georgia Cécile and Euan Stevenson! Consider it a modern jazz standard. During the evening soloists emerged from the various sections: the prodigiously talented Ryan Quigley blowing Walls of Jericho-like trumpet. Storm Arwen? Powder puff by comparison! Bassist Conor Murray, if unknown to some, announced his arrival, if he hasn't already, he'll soon acquire the tag 'first call'. Popp's immense intro to Blue is Just a Colour, Cécile's commanding vocal delivery on Harpoon, the tender but bittersweet Bittersweet. The strings, led by Aitken, were integral to the performance, cellist Sonia Cromarty sublime in a Love the Stars You're Under Cécile-Stevenson-Cromarty encore.

From time to time musicians receive a standing ovation, this evening Georgia Cécile received not one but two fully deserved standing ovations.  Russell

                                    

Georgia Cécile (vocals); Euan Stevenson (MD, piano); Ryan Quigley (trumpet); Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor sax); Michael Owers (trombone); Conor Murray (double bass); Max Popp (drums); String Quintet: Seonaid Aitken (Leader, violin); Kirsty Orton (violin); Patsy Reid (viola); ? (viola); Sonia Cromarty (cello)

 

Set list included: The Month of May; Come Summertime; Always Be Right; He Knew How to Love; Goodbye Love; Harpoon; Bittersweet; Ever Burning Flame; Blue is Just a Colour; Love the Stars You're Under.