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| © Glenn Wright |
Momrelle and Williams have long been familiar presences on the London scene — Williams with her celebrated Soul Family residency at Ronnie Scott’s and Momrelle through his years as Incognito’s frontman and his dazzling solo sets. That history showed in the way they worked the room: playful, assured and full of warmth. From the moment they launched into Back Together Again, the audience was swept into a wave of nostalgia laced with fresh energy.
Highlights included an imaginative reworking of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy, stripped back versions of The First Time and Killing me Softly and songs by Ray Charles, showcased Williams’ emotional phrasing and Momrelle’s soaring ad-libs, proving once again that both singers are masters at finding new depths in familiar material. Their interplay was natural and unforced — at times conversational, at others explosive — much like the Hathaway/Flack partnership they were honouring.
The seven-piece band added muscle and texture to the evening. Percussion drove the grooves forward with infectious energy, while keys layered in soulful chords and jazzy flourishes. The Rhodes framed the vocals without ever overshadowing them.It was the kind of ensemble that elevated the material rather than just backing it.
What makes nights like this stand out is not just the talent — though both Williams and Momrelle could fill the stage alone — but the generosity of spirit they bring. Just as in Williams’ previous Ronnie Scott’s showcases and Momrelle’s festival appearances, there was a sense of inclusion, of making the audience part of the music. By the final chorus, it felt less like a gig and more like a celebration shared between friends made all the more special by the fact that the gig was recorded for a very limited vinyl release “Live at Ronnie‘s". Glenn Wright
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