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Across the road in the aircraft hanger known as the Utilita Arena, Becky Hill was feeding the 10,700. In the Globe Dulcie May Moreno was preaching to a lesser congregation. In a perfect world the situation would have been reversed. At least nobody in the Globe needed medical attention.
Dulcie is a regular visitor to the area (she was born here) and never fails to captivate an audience as was proved last night.
Opening up with Dat Dere I was immediately taken by the almost operatic range and the purity of her voice. To have those qualities and still maintain the all-important jazz feel is no mean feat but Dulcie does it with apparent ease.
Our Love is Here to Stay, one of Gershwin's greatest love songs was beautifully sung and had an expressive solo by Mark. However, given the nature of the song I felt that the fours by bass and drums seemed out of place on such a ballad. This is no reflection on Mick or John who, like Mark, were superb throughout. Dulcie's final note left you hanging in the air - a beautiful touch.
Dulcie was in Chet Baker mode for Do it the Hard Way and, in the absence of a trumpet, made up for it with a scat chorus.
Walkin' had a nice feel to it. A bossa that I didn't catch the title of but captured the Gilberto groove and had excellent contributions from guitar, bass and drums followed and Doodlin' brought us up to the interval.
Everyone was happy.
Pure Imagination, No Moon at All and a terrific Take me to New York from her recent mini-album, reviewed HERE, kept the momentum going as did Humility Blues from the same album.
I'm in the Mood For Love had me swooning like a Becky Hill fan. The show drew towards a close with that grand old showstopper Mercy, Mercy, Mercy but I had to leave at the end of the second Mercy to avoid the mass exodus from across the road.
Great singer, great band - who needs Ibiza? Lance
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