Weather Tonight: 9°c Light showers Morning: 14°c Overcast

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quoteNew Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of itquote

Andrew O'Hagan The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quoteA smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusionquote

Henry Hitchings Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quoteKitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

David Sexton Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quoteToo long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effectsquote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quoteThis is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flawsquote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quoteAlex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factorquote

Alexandra Burke

Music reviews London,

Claire Martin and Ian Shaw's Christmas Stocking

Your rating
one startwo starthree starfour starfive star
Click on a star to rate
Purcell Room
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road,

Evening Standard rating Jack Massarik's rating
Evening Standard rating Reader rating
 Add your review


 

Claire Martin and Ian Shaw harmonise readily

By Jack Massarik, Evening Standard  05.12.08
 
Claire Martin and Ian Shaw

Singing for Christmas: Claire Martin often collaborates with Ian Shaw

Look here too

These two singers work together often and enjoy a remarkable understanding. They harmonise readily, with Claire Martin’s smooth, husky tone tempering Ian Shaw’s more bluesy edge, while Shaw’s piano backing gives them a rare rhythmic sureness.

Their tenth annual ­pre-Christmas stocking was a typically entertaining mixture of jazz, blues and cabaret. It being so early in December, Christmas numbers were shelved at first in favour of Harold Arlen classics (Blues in the Night, Get Happy) and a Joni Mitchell number, Borderline.

We also learned about aspiring songwriter Chester Babcock, who successfully changed his name to Jimmy Van Heusen after buying a shirt of that name. “He had a sister,” Shaw added, “called Polly Primark.”

Only after the interval, when the pair resurfaced in comical Santa hats, did the trusty Yuletide medley appear. Winter Wonderland, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) all had worthy chord progressions. Happiness is the Best Facelift, one of Joni’s seasonal family-squabble numbers, had much better words than music.

Martin’s special tribute was Love is Real, a ballad by Esbjorn Svensson, the Swedish pianist tragically killed in a scuba-diving accident this summer. Happier moments came on two Stevie Wonder songs, Knocks Me Off My Feet and If It’s Magic, featuring the joyful polyphonic scatting this pair do so well.

More


Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

 

Reader reviews (0)

 Add your review

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Your email address will not be published

Terms and conditions make text area bigger You have  characters left.


 
 


 
 
London's Weather
Tonight
Light showers
9°c
Morning
Overcast
14°c
5 day forecast
 
 

Daily Mail Mail on Sunday Travel Mail This is Money Metro

Loot | Jobsite | Homes & property | London jobs | FindaProperty.com | Primelocation.com | Educate London | Holiday Villas