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Search forJazz review: Lianne Carroll at Lichfield Guildhall
Monday, October 13, 2008, 09:00
The well-regarded musician has released a number of albums, as well as working alongside some of the best-known musicians working in jazz.
With a free-flowing piano sound, and technique in abundance, and a voice that sits somewhere between the much missed Kirsty McColl and Annie Lennox, she was accompanied by her bass-playing husband Roger Carey and drummer Mark Fletcher.
The music was chosen from a wide expanse of both songs from the jazz and blues spectrum, as well as songs from Billie Holiday, Steely Dan, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. Although Lianne was the centre of attention, her hard-working rhythm section were also given plenty of chances to shine, with solos and complex ensemble playing from all three of the musicians.
Her own song Dublin Morning featured a Bruce Hornsby-style piano opening, and a Celtic jazz theme throughout, before morphing into a much changed reading of Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, and then became a version of Gershwin's Summertime, which fused its well-known vocal part with Saint-Saens-like complex piano. Two Tom Waits songs, Picture in a Frame and Take it With Me, were sung solo, and although lacking the vocal grit of the originals, revealed their delicate beauty in this new setting.
Jazz songs featured throughout the set, with They Can't Take That Away From Me featuring dextrous piano and bass. A version of My Favourite Things featured vocals, but in terms of its structure owed a lot to John Coltrane's famous modal version of the song.
The warmth of Lianne Carroll's voice, and her piano playing should see her playing gigs like this for many years to come.
Review by Ben Macnair
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