Emma Smith (vocals); Jamie Safir (piano); Conor Chaplin (double bass); Luke Tomlinson (drums)
An advance sell out, no surprise at all. Emma Smith's recently released album Meshuga Baby garnered rave reviews and this 'second house' performance on Frith Street (earlier in the evening we'd been listening to the other Smith, Giacomo Smith and his Hot Five) couldn't fail to deliver the goods. As per the album, Ms Smith was in the company of pianist Jamie Safir (Smith's co-arranger), bassist Conor Chaplin and drummer Luke Tomlinson.
Dressed in pink, Smith would make frequent reference to her favourite colour, the set list mirroring that of the album's running order...track one, track two, track three and so on. I Don't Care with Smith's freewheeling Betty Carter-like vocals met with huge applause. It soon became apparent a contingent of family and friends would be Smith's cheer-leaders on the night! If she was a tad nervous it didn't show as Smith played the room to perfection. Exuding confidence, Smith - and her band - didn't miss a trick. As a rule showstoppers like There's No Business Like Show Business and People should be avoided, or at the very least, approached with caution, however, in the hands of Emma Smith there were no such worries. Having worked on the material for the album the band was razor-sharp, negotiating every twist and turn. Most impressive.
As a trio, Safir, Chaplin and Tomlinson constitute box office material. Three fine musicians (they're busy in numerous other contexts) did Smith proud with their dedication to the material and attention to detail. Smith's lyrics to Sit on my knee and tell me that you love me tickled the audience, tickled pink, you could say. Emma Smith held the audience in the palm of her hand and for an encore the undoubted star of the show bowed out with a scat-laden Ella medley. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment