So, our first visit to our yearly Snape Proms selection yesterday, sadly tempered by the knowledge that our last visit was pre stroke but with atrial fibrillation in full swing. Clare Teal (with Hollywood Orchestra) was the first of four visits this year, and this time she was celebrating the work of Ella Fitzgerald, post stroke but still AF encumbered.
The sort of musician with whom you shouldn’t really have that much affinity, but just as on previous occasions Clare is categorically the exception that proves the rule. Never one to avoid flying off piste, she has such a warm and engaging personality; like when she regales us with being asked to sing ‘Carrying A Torch’ with Van Morrison on his Duets CD but choosing on the evening in question to produce a very fine version of the oft overlooked ‘The Way Young Lovers Do‘ from the seminal “Astral Weeks” album; A version of ‘Mack the Knife‘ complete with Ella improvisation and embellishment was also very fine. With the benefit of a very fine and quite large big band conducted by the excellent Guy Barker, who provided many of the charts, this was an excellent opener with three more to follow.