Halfway through this great concert in the cavernous Edwardian treasure that is The King’s Hall, I realised why Elaine Delmar is such an exceptional artist and not just a singer with enormous emotional depth and natural talent. She inhabits a song in a way few vocalists do, sharing her love of the lyrics with you in a way that is effortless, carrying you into the story. While she is singing, you don’t think about vocal technique or the harmonic movement of her voice in line with the music. That thought comes later, as you clap rapturously. In the moment, you are listening to a master story-teller, honed by nearly seven decades of experience on the road as well as by her theatre acting. It is notable that in a recent interview, Delmar said she thought of herself more as a jazz-influenced singer than a ‘jazz singer’. I might beg to differ, but the point is the lyrics first speak to her and then they speak through her. And it’s great.
Delmar was well supported by Andy Panayi (sax and flute), John Pearce (piano), Simon Thorpe (double bass) and Bobby Worth (drums). The concert opened with a short impressive opening set from Geoff Mason (trombone) who excelled in particular on Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood”, utilising the trombone’s range beautifully, complemented by Panayi’s Ben Webster-ish tone on the tenor.
An early highlight of Delmar’s first set was a haunting version of Rodgers & Hart’s “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, her voice resonant and penetrating, contrasting pleasingly with Pearce’s light-fingered running solo. In a tribute to the recent passing of Roberta Flack, Delmar sang a distinctively voiced version of “Killing Me Softly”. This was followed up by the title track of her recent album “Speak Low”, an arrangement by John Taylor, with Panayi’s flute providing a fresh melodic element to Delmar’s powerfully quiet delivery.
As she introduced the songs, Delmar’s presence and good-humour glowed from the stage. Behind her, the band’s rhythm section of Thorpe and Worth were outstanding, particularly on the Cole Porter, Gershwin and Berlin songs that Delmar loves. Thorpe stepped out to duo with her on a standout version of “Summertime” towards the end of the second set. The song displayed both Delmar’s fluidity of voice, powerful in some parts and almost whispering the lyrics in others. Thorpe’s solo was very atmospheric, almost loaded with musical menace, perhaps conveying some of the irony many have noted in Gershwin’s lyric. Overall, a lovely concert from a wonderful singer backed by exceptional musicians, who all departed the stage to a standing ovation, with Delmar’s thousand-watt smile lighting up the evening.
All proceeds from the benefit show will go towards the 2025 Herne Bay Jazz Festival,which returns for its 8th year and will be held on 15-17 August 2025. The festival takes place in partnership with the Kings Hall, the Pier Stage, and numerous smaller venues in the seaside town. There will be over 40 hours of music during the three days, with world-class performances from top jazz artists and emerging talent. The full programme will be on the festival’s website soon.
