Needless to say, the live arts have been particularly ravaged by the Coronavirus pandemic, with most concerts either cancelled entirely or postponed until 2021. Music venues across the UK face continued uncertainty, even with vaccine deployment in motion. In a year in which most people have been cooped up inside, we need the exhilaration, the immediacy, and the rawness of live music back in our lives.
Here at The House That Soul Built, we’re celebrating the concerts that were fortunate enough to take place this year. Read about our top three below.
3. Jazz Voice at Cadogan Hall
Exposure to an eclectic range of talents is the beauty of an ensemble concert like Jazz Voice. An annual gala which kicks off the EFG London Jazz Festival, Jazz Voice went virtual in 2020, livestreaming from the lustrous Cadogan Hall in West London. From China Moses’ beguiling opener, David McAlmont’s homage to Billie Holliday, and Vanessa Haynes’ roof-raising vocals, the concert celebrated the diverse talent that this country offers.
2. Motown & More With Natalie Williams’ Soul Family at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
An annual Christmas residency at the iconic Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Motown & More takes the listener on a whistle-stop journey through Motown and soul classics. Natalie Williams and her ‘Soul Family’ of seasoned vocalists and musicians are at the top of their game, never relying on the greatness of the material to carry them through. Oft-covered songs that probably deserve to be retired sound invigorating with Soul Family’s punchy vocals, energetic horns, and lively presence. The highlights included Williams’ tender delivery on a piano-driven ‘What Becomes of the Broken Hearted’, Sharlene Hector’s finesse on ‘I Was Made to Love Her’, and, perhaps most impressively, Daniel Pearce’s explosive rendition of ‘Reach Out, I’ll Be There’. Check out a live-streamed concert below (featuring Soul Family regulars Vula Malinga and Brendan Reilly).
1. Lianne La Havas at Barbican Hall
Lianne La Havas’ concert at the Barbican Hall – later broadcast on BBC Radio – served as a powerful reminder of how talented this somewhat elusive artist is. Her setlist – drawing upon the acousticy Is Your Love Big Enough?, the more cosmic Unstoppable, and a couple of tracks from the sublime Lianne La Havas (released later in the year) – was given lavish treatment by Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. With mesmerising vocals from La Havas, the concert should have been released as a live album.
