Vanessa Haynes at Pizza Express Live (Review)
‘…Haynes has an innate soulfulness’ – A lead vocalist with acid jazzers Incognito, Vanessa Haynes has a fanbase across the UK and Europe among soul, funk, and jazz enthusiasts. She recently […]
‘Never Let School’ – Thabo (Review)
Though quiet and unassuming in person, the ‘gritty soul’ singer Thabo can bring the house down when he takes to the stage. Having taken a hiatus to focus on new […]
Carroll Thompson at Pizza Express Live (Review)
Carroll Thompson – the Queen of Lovers Rock – was utterly radiant on stage – Born in England to Jamaican parents, Thompson rose to prominence in the 1980s when her […]
‘This Bitter Earth’ – Aruba Red (Review)
Written by Clyde Otis, ‘This Bitter Earth’ was hit for rhythm-and-blues icon Dinah Washington in 1960. The string-laden arrangement, with Otis’ sombre lyrics, carries pangs of melancholy. Washington’s commanding delivery […]
Mississippi Goddam: Ledisi and Lisa Fischer sing Nina Simone (Review)
An exhilarating tribute to Nina Simone commanded by Jules Buckley, with divine singing from Ledisi and Lisa Fischer – Nina Simone – dubbed the ‘High Priestess of Soul’ – remains an idol […]
Judi Jackson at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (Review)
A charged and soulful performance from a rising star – Introduced as an artist ‘making a lot of noise’ within international jazz, Judi Jackson sauntered to the stage at Ronnie […]
VIDEO PREMIERE: ‘Burning Through’ – Gideon King & City Blog, feat. Alita Moses (Review)
The previous release by Gideon King and City Blog, ‘Audience of One’, was a strikingly ‘introspective meditation on loneliness’. The same confessional storytelling is applied to the jazz collective’s most […]
Jungle at Royal Festival Hall (Review)
The annual Meltdown event at the Southbank Centre allows a virtuosic musician to curate their own music festival. Previous curators have included Elvis Costello, David Bowie, and Patti Smith. This year, Nile Rodgers […]
‘Twenty Years’/’Golden Brown’ – Kizzy Crawford (Review)
If I had to predict the next soul artist to breakthrough into the mainstream, I would pick Kizzy Crawford. The bi-lingual Welsh singer-songwriter has a winning combination of ear-worm hooks, sweet […]
Pizza Express Unsigned Sessions – July (Review)
Championed by Playlist Manager Sepideh Cole, ‘Unsigned Sessions’ at Pizza Express Live, High Holborn showcase a diverse, eclectic roster of talent. With usually four acts taking to the stage each […]
‘She’s Got Something About Her’ – Danny Toeman (Review)
Toeman’s raw vocals shine on this slice of romantic soul – Danny Toeman – King of North London Soul – can spit fire during a live set. His two sold-out […]
Blues in the Night at Kiln Theatre (Review)
Sharon D Clarke sings the blues with immense feeling – Last performed at the Hackney Empire in 2014, Susie McKenna‘s production of Blues In the Night is currently running at […]
Burt Bacharach and Joss Stone at Eventim Apollo (Review)
Sensitive and thrilling readings from Burt Bacharach’s iconic songbook – Last night in the Eventim Apollo, some of history’s finest pop music was performed. Instantly hummable but with deceptive complexity, […]
The Color Purple at Birmingham Hippodrome (Review)
A moving and emotional piece, anchored by its gospel-infused score – There is a contemporary relevance and urgency to The Color Purple which makes the musical a fine choice for the […]