‘I’m trying so hard not to cry,’ exclaimed Vanessa Haynes as she walked to the stage at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. Dressed in a vibrant red with a characteristic flower in her hair, Haynes was greeted with applause from a depleted but enthusiastic audience hungry for the restorative powers of live music.
The venue was, understandably, at roughly half its usual capacity. But even with rigorous social distancing measures in place – hand sanisitier and a temperature check on arrival, screens between tables, and attentive, careful staff – Ronnie Scott’s is certainly back in business with all its magic retained.
And thank goodness for that. It’s no secret that the (live) arts have been disproportionately hit by the current coronavirus pandemic. (Haynes mentioned that last night’s show was one of her band’s first gigs since the country went into lockdown.) Lockdown has given us a taste of what life without live entertainment is like, and, to be honest, it’s pretty miserable.
Originally from Trinidad, Haynes is one of the more established performers in London’s soul and jazz scene, perhaps best known as a member of acid-jazz collective Incognito. She has also performed at the BBC Proms and the London Jazz Festival’s Jazz Voice gala.
Anyone familiar with Haynes’ work will know she has formidable pipes. She has toured a successful Aretha Franklin tribute across the country, with the power, range, and nuance to do justice to that incomparable catalogue.
But last night’s show put her original music and songwriting in focus. She kicked off with the ‘Strangers’, a sexually-charged mid-tempo with a funky groove and jazz slink, featuring an interlude from her pianist (and fiancé) Tom O’Grady. The blues rock of ‘How Did We Get To This’ brought out the rich timbre of Haynes’ lower register. ‘Somewhere Under the Radar’ matched Haynes’ soulful vocal with an ethereal pop-rock arrangement that could be a radio hit. She also honoured her late brother with ‘Brother’. ‘Goodbye, see you later,’ she sang wistfully.
Though she exudes calmness and control, Haynes can take the audience to church. You can hear shades of Chaka (for whom Haynes has performed backing vocals) when she reaches for a high note.
Watch the live stream of the show below! Buy a beer for a Ronnie Scott’s musician here!
Line-up:
Vanessa Haynes – vocals, piano
Al Cherry – guitar
Tom O’Grady – keys
Thiago Coimbra – bass
Francesco Mendolia – drums
Photography Credit: Carl Hyde
