Fortunately, the Polar Bear concert ended in time for us to rush next door to be seated in readiness for the closing concert of this year's Cheltenham Jazz festival. It was a coup for them to acquire the services of 2009's hit-maker , Paloma Faith and a master-stroke to match her up with Guy Barker and his orchestra.
As he elonquently explained before the concert, their collaboration created a concept entailed " Down On Lonely Street" allowing her the backdrop of a story to sing a variety of torch type songs. After a suitably strong orchestral opening to set the film noir theme and appreciative ( and surprisingly older than I expected) audience were thrilled to see the star of tonight's evening run through the auditorium before breathlessly arriving on stage.
For a radio concert we were treated to a nice set of a settee, light and phone re-creating a flat where this unfortunate young lady re-lives her lost lovers. Having set-up this interesting scenario the onus was now on messrs Faith and Barker to produce something remarkable. and boy did they succeed! The stage was set for them to select to select the most suitable songs from the standards repertoire and from her hit album " Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?" Amazingly, they blended together with " Black Coffee" ." Heartbreak Hotel" , " Cry Me A River" seemlessly fitting in with the title track and " New York, New York".
Of course, none of this would have worked without the sublime talent of Paloma Faith. Her album showed she is a fine singer with a distinctive voice but tonight proved she was equally at home with classics, torch songs, blues and up-tempo numbers like " Upside Down". The latter may not have fitted into the style of the evening but it certainly brought the house down and was deservedly reprised as her encore. Her only sign of nerves came from her constant referral to her song sheet in front of her although throughout the ninety minute set she was constantly supported by the wonderfuly Guy Barker who showed his trumpeting roots by busrsting into an impromptu solo.
I thought last night's Jamie Cullum gig was impresssive but tonight Miss Faith stole the festival deservedly gaining a standing and tumultous reception.
Roll on the 2011 festival.
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