Jazz on a chilled, breezy Saturday afternoon, in a beautiful art gallery, alongside a lush seaside suburb? Yes please.
The Natalie Claire Jazz Band, spearheaded by the singing maestro herself, is on a mission to ‘get people off screens, Netflix and dating apps’, and ‘spend a couple of hours supporting live music’.
A Band That Travels Across New South Wales
So passionate is she, you’ll find either her duo, trio, quartet or jazz band performing all over the state: from Lazybones Marrickville, to Wollongong Town Hall, The Baroque Room in Katoomba or the Vault Port Kembla.
This time, Natalie’s band is performing at the Mosman Art Gallery as a quartet, with Hugh Barrett on piano, Nicholas Powning on the Double Bass and Steve Ley on drums. A former Methodist church, the acoustics resonate off the high ceilings, and the beautiful stained-glass windows are a mix of colour and light creating a spiritual feel.
Jazz Royalty In An Intimate Setting
What becomes clear as soon as all 150 of us nestle in for a summery afternoon, is that this is not ‘just a jazz band’, but jazz royalty; musos at the top of their game, evident when award winning pianist Barrett starts playing the 1931 classic All Of Me.
Barrett’s piano playing is extraordinary: smooth, polished, highly sophisticated and exhilarating, which excitingly sets the tone for things to come. It’s like the musical floodgates open and a river of jazz pours out; the room becoming a jazz club in its heyday.
Natalie Claire Takes The Stage
It’s during this mesmerising introduction that Natalie walks down the aisle towards the stage, dressed in a silver, sparkly black dress; her luxurious, rich vocals, which for the next two hours captivate.
There’s The Girl from Ipanema, Nat King Cole’s The Very Thought of You and of course what is a jazz show without Frank Sinatra. Come Fly With Me, and I’ve Got You Under My Skin are interspersed with latin classics, like the bossa nova hit by Antonio Carlos Jobim called One Note Samba. As Natalie educates us throughout the show: ‘It’s amazing what one can do with just one note’.
The Rhythm Section That Drives The Music
The heartbeat and pulse of the band, Steve Ley on drums launched us into Fly Me To The Moon, while Nicholas Powning’s Double Bass set the mood for Fever by Peggy Lee, with an improvised rock riff thrown in.
A Reminder Of The Power Of Live Music
Ending with the famous blues tune Route 66, there was much applause. This isn’t just about getting off the screen and supporting live music, but appreciating the incredible gift of talent who are yearning to entertain, educate and inspire the local community.
With everyone now a star on social media and mediocrity currency, this is a refreshing reminder of what pure talent is.
Further Information
For further information about tour dates and bookings for events, check out:
Natalieclaire.com.au
Musicians for Hire
NCE Choir
M: 0415 796 095
Reviewed by: Georgia Cassimatis