‘Skeete’s voice has those compelling imperfections, with raspy cracks and breaks rich in character and expression.’
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It’s two-for-two at the 606 Club. Even if the venue’s intimacy may make it difficult to nab a good seat, the basement music space has again booked an excellent roster of musicians. After reviewing Imaani on the opening night of the London Jazz Festival at the club, last night marked The House That Soul Built‘s second show: ‘Queen of Backing Vocals’ Beverley Skeete, joined by special guests.
The House That Soul Built reviewed Skeete for the time in October at The Pheasantry – a venue under the Pizza Express Live umbrella. She reprised only a few numbers from that set, including The Impressions’ ‘People Get Ready’ and her outstanding, megalomaniacal interpretation of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ ‘I Put a Spell on You’. She sings with bite, her gritty belt often breaking into operatic head voice. Skeete’s voice has those compelling imperfections, with raspy cracks and breaks rich in character and expression.
Though impressing on ‘Rainy Night in Georgia’ and moving original song ‘My Mother’s Love’, the first set lacked definition. The second set saw the more exciting, challenging material. An example of this was a rearranged, almost unrecognisable version of The Backstreet Boys’ ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, released in May this year. It made this writer think: ‘how great would it be to have a night dedicated to soulful rearrangements of very contemporary songs, in the Postmodern Jukebox vein?’ Skeete also chanelled Mavis Staples’ growly delivery with a cover of ‘I’ll Take You There’. Even if the ‘get up and dance’ encore numbers were a touch laboured (bringing the night to a 1am finish), the energy was irrepressible. After shocking audience members with the news that she had just turned sixty, Skeete blasted through Tom Browne’s ‘Funkin’ for Jamaica’. The stoic but talented Nial Tompkins, in the words of my companion for the evening, ‘sang’ with his guitar. The ostensibly reserved patrons of the 606 were lifted off their feet.
Joining Skeete for lead vocals was British soul singer Kevin Leo, dressed impeccably in a green shirt, grey waistcoat, and satin red tie. Leo has plenty of backing vocal and production credits under his belt (Dionne Warwick, Kool & the Gang, Lemar), in addition to original solo material. His considered song choices demonstrated his versatility, both stylistically and vocally. In the first set, he delivered a soulful rearrangement of Sting’s ‘Fragile’, meshing the original’s pensiveness with some structural elements of Isaac Hayes’ 1995 rendition. In the second set, he gave the Al Green treatment to the Bee Gees’ ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. Though singing with a refined, mature soulful tone, his texture switched to one of grit and snarl when tackling James Brown’s ‘The Boss’. He turned into quite the funk man.
Exquisite pianist Lex Cameron, who supported Incognito vocalist Imaani at the 606 two weeks ago, took the lead also. Though mild on a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Knocks Me Off My Feet’, he tackled D.Train’s post-disco ‘You’re the One for Me’ with a subtle Latin-arrangement and sang with controlled falsetto licks. In addition to Skeete’s ‘I Put a Spell on You’, the standout performance of the evening was a Cameron-led rendition of Seals & Crofts’ idyllic ‘Summer Breeze’. Skeete and Leo harmonised beautifully, and Cameron looked in ecstasy as he played.
The Full Band
Beverley Skeete – Vocals
Kevin Leo – Vocals and percussion
Nial Tompkins – Guitar
Lex Cameron – Vocals and piano
Chris Dodd – Bass
John Jackson – Drums
(Image taken from 606 website)
