Elaine Delmar is a complete miracle. In a sensible country she would be a national monument. Wikipedia will tell you how old she is, but you don’t have to believe it if you don’t want to. Delmar, I calculate, is only a couple of years short of having spent seven decades – Yes. Seven. Decades. – on stage. Again and again she will do something with a song which justifies the price of the ticket. The contentment and ease of “It Might as Well be Spring”. The plaintive tone of “I loves you Porgy”. The effervescence of Paul Williams’s “They Say It’s Wonderful”. The teasing delay over the words “stop before I begin” in “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. The slow, kid-gloves “Tea for Two”…the clever and thoughtful enunciation of every word of “S’Wonderful”… Essentially, the wonders never stop. This was a masterclass.
The band is a regular unit, and follows all the twists and turns with total assuredness. Jim Mullen‘s melodic gift is eternally fresh and their duet “Isn’t it a pity” was a gem. Barry Green shone particularly in a performance of “Send in the Clowns” which was alive to the song’s particular subtleties and reflectiveness. Simon Thorpe on bass and Bobby Worth on drums were flawless. What a great show to mark the half-way point of John Billett’s LJF programme at Piano Smithfield.
3 responses
I always take a pen and paper when i go to hear Elaine perform, because it is truly a masterclass in amazing vocal techniques. And i never tire of listening to her. She’s the greatest singer i’ve ever heard, and she should be known worldwide, because there’s no one like her.
🙌🏻👌🏻⚡️🔥👏🏻🙏🏻 Elaine is simply THE BEST!
This is the second time I had the pleasure of seeing Elaine she is indeed one of kind wonderful!