Live

Kandace Springs : Pizza Express Soho 28/04/2016

Kandace Springs may sound like an antidote to the water problem in Flint or a midwest indian reservation championed by Marlon Brando but in fact it's the name of Blue Note records new signing currently touring with the towering Gregory Porter.So it was fortuitous indeed to catch this enchanting and effervescent young songstress at an intimate lunchtime press gig held at the jazzy environs of the pizza express in Soho.

There's no artifice at work here,the set up is blindingly simple just the lass and two sidemen comprising of double bass and drums.Don't be fooled by the nashville twang in her spoken voice the similarity between Dolly and her stops there! This girl has a whole heap of soul and on today's evidence she is simply breathtaking, leaving you with shivers and goosebumps on her take on the jazz standard, 'Soul Eyes' from her current EP.Not as jaunty as Vanessa Rubin's version but far moodier and introspective.Ms Springs digs deep into that soul jazz universe quite effortlessly and in a natural fashion - she cuts to the chase and gets to the heart of the matter,she's plainly plugged into that historical musical ether and put simply,I can't see anything stopping her reaching the very top.
Highlights from her 20 minute set included a terrific version of "Place To Hide" by Judy Tzuke who happened to be sitting next to me fending off the tears as Ms Springs tore into it gleefully and the full extent of her breathy and magical tones continued to pour out on Roberta Flack's 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'.A room full of critics silenced - not a bad afternoon's work!Suffice to say this kid has got bags of personality and vivacious too, her likeability will no doubt stand her in good stead.Watch out for her in July when the album comes out and also when she returns to the UK.
PHOTOS EMRYS BAIRD
Words Emrys Baird