Emma Smith

Band on the Wall, Manchester - I spend an awful lot of time at this venue, but when it consistently keeps coming up with the goods it’s hard to keep away, and tonight is no exception as Emma Smith, Jazz Vocalist of the Year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards for 2024, and her Trio are in town.

As I arrive in the city the remnants from the Manchester Day celebrations are still evident, even if the parades and performers have headed home. At Band on the Wall there’s an excited air about the place at finally seeing Ms. Smith in concert. Smith herself defined this performance, her first in Manchester with a full band, as ‘intimate with only 200 places’ and ‘has been ten years in the making after receiving many requests’. No wonder Manchester is full of excitement. There’s barely a seat to spare when the lady appears on stage accompanied by Sam Watts on keys, Conor Chaplin on bass and Luke Tomlinson on drums for the first of a two set evening.

Jet Set and Doodlin’ open the show before the first of the trio get to show off their talents with Tomlinson performing a wonderful solo in Old Black Magic, on a delicious Premier Drum kit.

The audience, now suitably in the moment and devouring every note she sings makes her feel at home with such a warm welcome. “I’ve spent the past 18 months living my best life, touring the world with these guys” she tells us, “but in Paris where I was a little apprehensive to play anyway, I had a glass of champagne dropped on my head at Les Duc des Lombards, accidentally, of course, but… and I wanted to impress them so much and had arranged April in Paris especially for them !”

Oh, those French !

The curved ball of the evening came in the form of a cover of George Michael’s ‘Faith’, incredibly slowed down and with a huge jazz feel riddled through it – no surprise there though. She asks us not to report her to the jazz police for going outside of the genre, but Manchester was greatly appreciative of it, so I’d say she’s on safe ground.

The second set begins with a version of Leonard Bernstein’s New York, New York, before Smiths passion for musicals shows through with a brace of tunes from Fiddler on the Roof. L'chaim, is inspired by one of her previous visits to Manchester to perform at the Jewish Museum and is followed by a delightful version of Matchmaker.

It’s quite common these days for artists to advertise the wares they have for sale but Smith takes this to a whole new level with the band launching into a subtle version of Ipanema as a backing track, whilst she displays vinyl editions of her recent albums ‘Meshuga Baby’ and ‘Bitter Orange’ which she’ll be happy to sign at the Merch Table afterwards! A career on QVC will surely beckon if the jazz ever falls flat - which it won’t.

Mac the Knife, finishes off the night, well, not really as we have a proper encore to deal with. Everyone heads off stage to rapturous applause, before they all return for the real ending and a bit of audience participation with a splendid rendition of That’s Life.

So, as the foursome take their bows, Manchester rises to its feet for a standing ovation that is richly deserved. Tonight was a wonderful experience, long overdue, and leaves an audience desperately hoping that Ms. Smith doesn’t leave it another ten years until she returns. It’s probably worth mentioning that Manchester has a fine jazz festival every May, much of it taking place at the same venue as tonight and that ‘headliners’ will be needed for 2027! Just a thought.

Tour continues throughout August in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain before Ms. Smith and the boys head to the US for a dozen or so dates in September and October.

UK Dates: -

8th Aug - Brecon Jazz Festival

26th Aug - Ronnie Scott’s, London

30th Aug - Ronnie Scott’s, London

31st Aug - Ronnie Scott’s, London

For more details, head to… https://www.emmasmithmusic.co.uk

Emma Smith Setlist

Jet Set

Doodlin'

Old Black Magic

Born to Be Blue

April in Paris

One Note Samba

Faith

(I’m in a) Middle of a Muddle

New York New York

Silk and Satin (bass)

L’chaim

Matchmaker

Curtain Falls

Mac the Knife

Encore

That's Life

Emma Smith was Accompanied by…

Sam Watts - Keys

Conor Chaplin - Bass

Luke Tomlinson - Drums

Written in association with UK Jazz News