JUMPINSOUNDS: Caught Live : REBECCA FERGUSON - Lady Sings The Blues @ St. James Studio, 16th Feb 2015

REBECCA FERGUSON

LADY SINGS THE BLUES

LIVE @ ST. JAMES THEATRE

Undoubtedly one of THE most unique voices to come from any UK TV talent show, REBECCA FERGUSON's sound has always had a timeless quality and a style that harks back more to a classic era of jazz and early soul.

It was therefore only a matter of time before these two elements would be combined and in doing so she has probably embarked on her most successful venture yet.

Having already been a lifelong fan of her music, REBECCA has taken on the task of recreating and recording some of the best known songs by the legendary BILLIE HOLIDAY.

Taking most of it's content from HOLIDAY's 1956 album of the same name, 'Lady Sings The Blues' is not only a tribute to a jazz great but allows the former X Factor star to show exactly what she is capable of.

Under the supervision of producer & musical director TROY MILLER, who has previously worked with other unique voices including AMY WINEHOUSE and more recently LAURA MVULA, the album captures the true sound of a golden age of music. To help achieve this, some of the recordings were made in Capitol studios in LA, where many of BILLIE's originals were created, and was also the place that saw the likes of FRANK SINATRA regularly record.

Possibly helping to bring more emotion to the recording, REBECCA was pregnant with her third child during the making of the album.

Last week was the first time that this new material was to be heard in public in the extremely intimate surroundings of the Studio at London's St. James' Theatre, a perfect venue for the performance given it's jazz club vibe.

With a band of quality musicians taking their places lead again by TROY MILLER, our star arrived on stage.

REBECCA's look brought an air of 50's glamour to the proceedings, resplendent in her gold designer dress complete with a pair of Louboutins she took her position centre stage to perform the lively opener 'Get Happy'.

In her opening speech she spoke of how she had fallen in love with the way BILLIE HOLIDAY put her spirit into her songs, possibly emphasized by the two tracks that followed 'Fine And Mellow' and the classic 'That Ole Devil Called Love'.

She dedicated the beautiful 'Embraceable You' to newborn daughter Arabella (who's photo sat on the piano by her side throughout the show) before continuing to explain that HOLIDAY's style of singing was always a mixture of 'sweet and sorrow' but although REBECCA never tried to emulate her sound, her own unique vocals provided us with a very similar quality.

Introducing 'Lover Man' she compared her own slightly unpredictable love life to that of HOLIDAY's too, indeed the two singers have strangely shared many experiences throughout their lives which makes the connection deeper and some of the songs all the more poignant.

A string of classics familiar to many made up the set list from 'Stormy Weather' to 'Blue Moon, 'God Bless The Child' to 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' all delivered with high quality, not just from the vocalist but from the tight ensemble also on the stage.

With a reprise of the opening song as the final encore the show was over but it was clear that not just the audience but the whole band themselves had enjoyed the experience. A truly unique and unforgettable performance from all involved.