Live

Adriana Evans: Jazz Cafe, London 24/06/11

As I reflect on June concerts I have attended at Jazz Café, I realise that for the past 5 years there is always an artist that I see where something magical that happens. And I wonder... Is it luck? The promise of balmy summer nights? The stars aligning with the moon?? (ED: yeah, that one!) Or simply good planning from Jazz café???

...Whatever it is, 2011 did not disappoint, this time in the form of California born Adriana Evans performing for two nights in what can only be described as amazing shows, courtesy of Simon Precilla Promotions.

It was wet and cold outside, and Adriana was dressed in lilac, but to the packed crowd at Jazz Café she was red hot and smokin’! Opening with ‘Hey Now’ from the 2007 album 'El Camino', there was definitely no warm up needed to get Adriana’s powerhouse vocals ready for the show. Singing songs from across her five albums, Adriana highly impressed with her vocal range, warmth and interaction with the crowd, and ability to connect with her eight piece band. Songs like ‘Love Is All Around’, 'Reality’ and ‘Seeing Is Believing’ from her self titled 1997 album sounded as fresh as songs like ‘Suddenly’, ‘Surrender’ and ‘Let You Get Away’ from her current album 'Walking With The Night'.

The jazz influence from her mother was evident in a number of tracks, either through her phrasing or ability to scat and harmonize. One particular song which enthused the crowd was ‘I Hear Music’ from the Nomadic album, in which Adriana’s lyrical appreciation of music was matched with the enthusiasm of her salsa steps to the drummer’s solo spot. Not afraid to show off her Latin roots, I could feel the sense the Brazilian beaches as she sang ‘Little Bluebird’, written whilst she travelled the shores of Bahia.

Vocally Adriana is a very strong singer, with phrasing at times sounding like Phyllis Hyman, but mostly like herself. Her band was also very good, a sign again of Precilla’s investment in quality musicians, although some percussion instruments would have rounded out the sound perfectly. Overall a good night was had; Adriana is an artist that should be coming across the Atlantic more frequently and hopefully with promoters like Precilla in place this should happen.
Words Richard 'Ricardito' Ashie