Lady Nade @ Middlesbrough Town Hall - June 8

Lady Nade (vocals); Sophie Stockham (tenor sax); Holly Carter (guitar); Ruth Hammond (piano); Chris Jones (double bass); Matt Brown (drums)

Middlesbrough Town Hall. Presenting Nina Simone's, at times, heavyweight material with a light touch, Lady Nade engaged an enthusiastic Sunday afternoon audience, an audience comprising an unusually high percentage of females.             

Based in Bristol, Lady Nade and her five piece band made the long journey north to Teesside to perform two sets of music by the renowned Nina Simone: Lady Nade sings Nina Simone: a Celebration of Her Legacy. Middlesbrough Town Hall's Court Room is a working court and a couple of numbers into her set Lady Nade threatened to have us 'taken down' if we didn't buy some 'merch'! 

Touring the length and breadth of the UK*, Lady Nade pays due respect to Eunice Kathleen Waymon (Nina Simone). Here on Albert Road, the presentation of Simone's many familiar/famous songs was wholly accessible. The afternoon was not so much about the life and times of the American musician and civil rights activist, no, the focus was on the music of Ms Simone.  

I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free to Ain't Got No - I Got Life to Love Me or Leave Me, the Bristolians hit the ground running. Pianist Ruth Hammond had it down, impressively so. From the off, bassist Chris Jones and drummer Matt Brown nailed it, impressively so. 

Work Song, Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put a Spell on You, My Baby Just Cares for Me - guitarist Holly Carter commendably restrained throughout the two sets, likewise tenor saxophonist Sophie Stockham, playing exactly what was required - and many more classic numbers hit the spot. Lady Nade can sing, that's for sure. A standing ovation spoke volumes.               

* Lady Nade appears at Gosforth Civic Hall on Friday 3 October. Book at: www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk. Russell