Henry rendered the Queen of Soul’s catalogue with note-perfection
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New York cabaret star Nicole Henry has been touring her Aretha Franklin tribute around the UK with JBGB Events, culminating in a show last night at St John’s Smith’s Square in Westminster. In her interview with The House That Soul Built earlier in the year, Henry spoke of Franklin’s profound impact on her life and career:
‘Aretha Franklin’s songs had to be some of the earliest adult music I ever memorized… Her voice and heartfelt delivery became a standard of measure by default. If “soul” could ever be quantified, I would bet my last dollar that she sang with every milligram of her soul!’
Working with musical director and guitarist Nick Fitch, Henry’s tribute included several off-centre cuts: Bread’s ‘Make It With You’ (recorded on Aretha’s Live at Filmore West album, 1971), ‘Why I Sing the Blues’, The Beatles’ ‘Eleanor Rigby’, The Rolling Stones’ ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, and the jazz standard ‘Skylark’ – one of the highlights of Aretha’s Columbia days prior to her commercial breakthrough with Atlantic Records.
In contrast to the bulk of Aretha Franklin tributes – often performed with a gritty and/or heavy female vocal – Henry’s delivery was distinctly subtle and smoother in approach. Though capable of attacking the notes when needed, Henry was utterly confident in her softer vocalisations, striking gold with her ethereal low-mid tones.
Her perfect pitch and elegant phrasing was most apparent during the still moments of the set when she was paired with just Fitch’s airy electric guitar – as per the opening verses of ‘Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You’ve Got a Friend’ and ‘I Say A Little Prayer’. She also performed a teasing and coquettish ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ and a rendition of ‘Spirit in the Dark’ which straddled the sexual and the spiritual.
The second set featured two sublime reinterpretations. Firstly, a jazz rendition of ‘Chain of Fools’ driven by Jack Tustin’s double bass. The best cover of ‘Chain of Fools’ this writer has heard, Henry used the slower tempo to draw out the pain and calculation within the lyric (‘One of these mornings / The chain is gonna break / But up until the day / I’m gonna take all I can take‘). Lastly, Henry delivered a yearning rendition of ‘Skylark’ accompanied by just Fitch on guitar – meticulously controlled and beautifully sung.
Full Band
Tom Smith – Saxophones
Freddie Gavita- Trumpet
Nick Fitch – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Joe Hill – Organ/Piano
Jack Tustin – Bass
Luke Tomlinson – Drums
(Image copyright: Nicole Henry)
