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London Jazz Festival Opening Night @The Barbican 12/11/2010

London Jazz Festival Opening Night @The Barbican 12/11/2010
(I managed to catch four nights of the festival including this one)
As per usual the London Jazz Festival got off to a cracking start with a glitzed up Hollywood invoked Cecil B. De Mille like production led by the indefatigblle and entertaining Mr Guy Barker. Barker's of Barbican pulled out all the stops with an amazing array of talent and conducted uptempo arrangements like nobody else, and also very meaningful ballads with a 42 piece orchestra Frank Sinatra would have died for!

He enhanced the performance by providing a setting to make this concert naturally palatable to the listener, while at the same time showing off the strengths of the singers. He seems to have got the 'World on a String' and tonight there was a special air of unity with audience and orchestra sharing a very unique experience as the gala evening unfolded.

The star studded guests poured forth in numbers and first out on the ring was the sultry, sassy and oh so special China Moses, looking a dish in her red dress belting out 'Work Song' with the uber talented Charlie Wood (check his excellent album Flutter and Wow) what a start! The richness of Wood's voice and the personality of Moses complemented each other perfectly and made a big impression straight away. Moses continued with a slow swing number 'Teach Me Tonight' bolstered by blaring horns and the most lush Mantovani like strings imaginable a heady cocktail not to be gulped but savoured! Poor Jacqui Dankworth had to follow that solo but didn't really shine until she duetted with Wood later on with a sprightly arranged 'Baby It's Cold Outside'

However the star of the show was the next act Mr Georgie Fame who in my book, is the absolute don fronting a swinging '60s groove version of Cole Porter's 'Always True To You In My Fashion' flame lit up the place. You could sense the orchestra's thrill and desire to nail this one and pay homage to a legend! Like Single malt his voice just gets better with age. Gentlemanly, urbane and suave to the core Georgie was a particular highlight. His ballad 'Everything Happens To Me' was a stonker too, tender and compelling.

Moonlighting from his scottish funk roots saw the genial blue eyed soul singer Hamish Stewart change vocal styles to give a glitzy performance of "That's Life" crooning seemed to quite suit him, maybe Vegas awaits if he wants to freeze the funk for a wee while? Other joys of the evening, Ms Paloma Faith who is far more suited, in my opinion to singing jazz (even though 'Stone Cold Sober' was a fab start to her career). She looked incredible, a funky pre-raphaelite beauty tatted up in a silky, slinky evening gown with long pink evening gloves, glamourous and totally at ease with this massive tune. You could literally feel the men in the auditorium swoon at her while she sang 'At Last' absolutely bang on girl!

The ubiquitous Noel Mckoy shone as well on the much underrated Stevie Wonder song 'Don't Know Why I Love You' a soul nugget that was lovingly brought back to life. Ralph Salmins's kick ass drumming a noteworthy delight, he really is the bus driver of the orchestra and without him they ain't going nowhere, fares please! Barker shows remarkable savvy when he comes to choosing him as the ultimate backbone of the band.

Probably the most touching moment of the evening came when teenager Nikki Yanofsky crescendoed with 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' a canadian firebrand at just sixteen years old, unfazed by it all as she delivered a note perfect, maple syrup toned rendition, captivating and deeply musical this youngster showered us with her vast untapped potential.

it was such a delight for those of us who have rarely had the opportunity to hear the music played so well live in this majesterial context. This was a maximum injection of showbiz adding to the proceedings while still demonstrating a great deal of respect and knowledge of the compositions chosen. A first class affair which ups the ante every year without fail.
Words Emrys Baird