BARBARA DICKSON - FAIRFIELD HALLS, CROYDON (26th February, 2004)
8.00pm. The house lights fall. Three musicians quietly take their places on stage. A plain black backdrop, a few coloured spotlights, a few puffs of smoke. Once the star appears, the show will begin.
What? No twenty-seven-piece band, no chorus of backing singers, no dancers, no lasers - not even a headset or radio mike? How, in 2004, can this be a concert?
Easy. When you're really good, you don't need the gimmicks. But, equally, to keep it this basic, you have to be really good. And Barbara Dickson is, quite simply, one of the best singers around.
In spite of her long and very varied career, most people still think of her as singing bland, MOR pop. They couldn't be more wrong. Her repertoire tonight included folk, gospel, show songs, pop and jazz all of which she performed with great professionalism, consummate artistry, and obvious enjoyment.
From the first few bars of the opening song "The Bells of Rhymney" it was clear that we were in for something special. With an impassioned performance of Carole King's "Natural Woman", via a version of "Tell Me It's Not True" which proved that there is still only one Mrs. Johnstone, to the wry humour of "The Shape of Things" there really wasn't a weak spot in the entire programme.
"Caravans", "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "The Long and Winding Road" all sounded wonderfully fresh and vibrant, even though Barbara first sang them around thirty years ago! "Singing Bird" and "Wayfaring Stranger" were a glorious return to her folk roots; while "Fever", "I'm a Woman" and "Lover Man" showed what a superb jazz singer Barbara has become.
A few songs from the work-in-progress "Faithless Love" were previewed, the title track amongst them. If there is any space left on the album, could I put in a special plea for "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" to be included? This was a beautiful version of the James Taylor song; it might have been written for Barbara, so well did it suit her voice.
Throughout the evening, Barbara was given excellent support by the band Brad Lang (electric double bass), Neil Drinkwater (keyboards & accordion) and Pete Zorn (guitar, mandolin & woodwind). To hear such accomplished musicians blending together so well was a rare pleasure; a pleasure increased by the high quality of the sound system.
I've seen Barbara in concert more times than I can remember over the last twenty-five years, but this was a truly outstanding performance. It was one of those magical nights when everything gelled perfectly. Barbara and the boys could have played every song they knew, and the audience would still have called for more!
If you were there, count yourself lucky. If you weren't, be jealous. Be very, very jealous and console yourself with the prospect of the new album.
(Review by Vivienne Chick)
