Imaani got the ERG Jazz Festival season at the 606 off to a flying start with a great performance ably assisted by Nate Williams and a magificent band.
Imaani has one of the UK’s best soul voices, in fact her voice is capable of singing most genres but by her own admission she does not sing jazz, however this did not stop her launching the London Jazz Festival at the 606 for the sixth time. She sang many of her own compositions some from her album ‘Standing Tall’. Nate Williams shared the stage during both sets featuring songs from his album ‘Got to Let Go’ and his recent EP ‘Them & Us ‘. He has soulful voice and played keyboard and piano, the quality of his voice was best illustrated on his slower numbers especially ‘Miss You ‘. He started with Imaani on his composition ‘DTMB’.
Imaani shone especially singing her own ‘Just for a Day’ (the first song she ever wrote) ‘Let’s Do It Right’ and ‘Resolution’, a song she wrote and recorded with Incognito. She sang an interesting version of Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ dedicated to her nine-year old son, the song had a piece of Michael Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’ spliced in.
The band : Lex Cameron (keyboard and piano), Emlyn Francis (Guitar), Francis Hylton (Six strong bass) and Daniel John (Drums) were outstanding and enhanced the songs on both performers.
A memorable evening.
Johns London Music Reviews 