Band on the Wall, Manchester - So, after the excitement and huge success of the opening weekend, where we bathed outdoors in glorious sunshine for three whole days, Manchester, Jazz Festival, now moves indoors for a series of very exclusive performances. This is my base now for the next few nights with a ‘100 mile an hour’ performance from Ibibio Sound Machine to come tomorrow and then two wonderful performances on Sunday, firstly, from Hannabiell and the Midnight Blue Collective and then to finish everything off nicely, Buena Vista Social Club‘s Eliades Ochoa. Let’s deal with this evening first though, as our headliner is the delightful Mica Millar. There are many who’ve been waiting months for this, it’s a bank holiday weekend and it would appear everybody has come out early to play.
Mali Hayes - First up though, we have a pleasant surprise as we weren’t expecting a Support. Mali Hayes appears on stage, a little nervous perhaps, as “it’s the first time she’s played at this venue when it’s been full”, she tells us - and full it is.
Mali’s support comes from Tom Fripp on guitar and two backing vocalists, and she performs a delightful six song set, including ‘Come Closer’, ‘Balance’, and ‘Jump’, which was the first song she ever wrote - apparently, in a basement by all accounts.
The nerves seemed to disappear as she gradually went further through the set, and it was helped an awful lot by the fact that the audience were really appreciative and supportive. Each song receives a well-deserved round of applause - and this builds confidence. Mali herself acknowledges this as she tells us… “It’s not everywhere that you play where everyone listens, but this time they have. Thank you.” Mali is grateful and the look on her face is one of relief smothered with satisfaction that she pulled it off. The girl done well, in fact the girl done very well, and I hope that it’s not too long before I see her perform again.
Mica Millar - Now it’s only a few short months ago that Millar launched her debut album, ‘Heaven Knows’, only a couple of miles away at the Albert Hall, an elegant venue for an elegant, but all seated performance with no dancing in the aisles. Tonight however, she’s back on much more familiar territory and it’s standing room only. Band on the Wall are our hosts and it’s a sell-out. Mali Hayes’s has done her warm up job very well and Manchester is ready.
At the allotted hour, Ms. Millar appears on stage resplendent in white, hair done to perfection and an air that captivates immediately. There are no such nerves here – or if there are, they’re being well hidden - as Mica is on home territory and, it would seem, amongst friends, and a lot of them too. She’s supported by her eight-piece band who are already in place, and the scene is set.
Tonight is all about the album and we’re about to hear ‘Heaven Knows’ from start to finish and in almost the same order as the album itself. She opens with track one ‘Girl’ and follows it immediately with track two, ‘Preacher Man’. Manchester is already moving, swaying, sashaying. Dancing, it would appear, is compulsory tonight. Nothing and no one is going to stop it.
Her voice has such clarity to it, crystal like, but bluesy when it needs to be. The songs have a jazz feel to them, absolutely, but are draped in soulful vibes and it’s a pleasure to experience. ‘More Than You Give Me’ shows this more than most, with a marvellous, upbeat melody showing Millar’s powerful tones with funky lyrics making it all sound anthemic. On we go with ‘Trouble’, ‘Fools Fate’, which is a particular favourite as Manchester damn blew the roof off with its appreciation at the end, and ‘When You’re Gone’.
In between the songs, Mica is chatty and personable, but if you closed your eyes, you would swear to God that it’s Lisa Stansfield speaking, such is the uncanny resemblance to her voice – or is that just how a non-Mancunian hears it? She and tells us that the album covers a range of themes from love, feminine empowerment, spirituality, and inspiration that she’s drawn on from others as well as herself.
Millar tells us that ‘My Lover’ was the first single that she released as an independent artist and she gives thanks to all who bought it, and tickets for tonight’s show. She tells us that she is a little nervous as the track has been ‘stripped bare’ and will be performed by herself and Max O’Hara on piano. “Have some wine” shouts a wag from the audience, which she does - or whatever it is in the glass anyway, and the soulful ballad is performed delightfully and oozed so much emotion it sent shivers down your spine.
The home straight saw ‘Give View My Prayer’ marry blues with rock, before we get the title track of the album ‘Heaven Knows’, gospel driven with a melody that hooks you in, and lyrics that lift your spirit and make you feel whole again.
The final track is ‘Will I Ever See You Again’ which tells of the emotion behind saying goodbye to someone you’ve loved, and wondering…
The album has a beauty to it, the performance of the album even more so. It was wonderful to experience it. Ms. Millar is surely a force to be reckoned with, especially when you consider that all of this comes off the back of one album, her only album !
So, an excellent way to start the ‘indoor’ performances of MJF23 and if the rest of the weekend is anything like this then we are in for the ride of a lifetime.
Written in association with Manchester Jazz Festival
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