The Vox Collective are a group of session musicians often appearing in different incarnations across London’s live music scene. Almost a year-and-a-half ago, the group performed an homage to iconic singer-songwriter Carole King at the Jazz Café. Last night, the group brought their tribute to Pizza Express High Holborn.

With leader Katrín Ýr on vocals alongside Natalie Palmer and Bryony Purdue, the group were joined by Glenn Callaghan on keys, Dion Rushe on guitar, and occasional percussion from Ed Broad. Performed at the Jazz Café with a full string section, Katrín decided to strip back the ensemble to lay greater focus on King’s lyrics and the group’s vocal harmonies.

Beginning with the sexually urgent ‘I Feel the Earth Move’, the group performed every track from King’s seminal Tapestry (1971) album. A record of sublime emotional honesty and arresting melody, Tapestry went on to sell over 25 million copies and win four Grammy Awards. Of course, King’s career was thriving well before Tapestry with a songbook that spanned pop, folk, and soul – often with lyrics from her former husband Gerry Goffin.

Unpretentious in their presentation, the three vocalists gave performances which respected the integrity of the material while adding their own subtle touches, particularly in terms of their vocal arrangements. The dulcet-toned Natalie Palmer took the lead on King’s ‘It’s Too Late’, an anthem of resignation and closure. With husky alto, Bryony Purdue gave an aching rendering of ‘So Far Away’, while the bright-voiced Katrín Ýr soared with the spiritual ‘Way Over Yonder’. They joined together for a performance of the classic ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ in delicate three-part harmony.

Diverting from Tapestry, the three vocalists also performed a medley of pop songs written by King including ‘It Might As Well Rain Until September’, ‘Take Good Care of My Baby’, ‘I’m Into Something Good’, and ‘One Fine Day’.

Before an encore of ‘The Loco-Motion’ (recorded by Little Eva), Katrín took the lead on a rendition of ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’, written for Aretha Franklin but later recorded by King on Tapestry. With Palmer and Purdue mirroring the backing vocals on Franklin’s rendition, Katrín sang with gusto.

(Image taken from Vox Collective Facebook Page)