Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin

May 30 2008 by Alison Anderson

THIS evening of laid-back jazz was titled “When Lights Are Low” – and indeed a cabaret, lights down low ambience would have better suited the occasion rather than the glaring lights and empty front rows which obviously irritated jazz singer Claire Martin.

The sound system also seemed not to Ms Martin’s liking, neither, for the first half anyway, did she seem at ease with her co-performer.

The evening had not started well, with the sound system not working at all! The performers made a brave attempt to sing sans amplification until a technician righted the wrong.

While veteran composer, pianist and singer Sir Richard was so laid back he was almost horizontal, Ms Martin looked ill at ease for much of this concert, of which there was much to like but ultimately earned a ‘could do better’ report.

Certainly Ms Martin’s honey smooth vocals with her impressive range sat comfortably in the repertoire, which took in standards from the 1920s to present day, plus some unfamiliar compositions. But her vivacity which had lit up the Perth Festival stage in “Girl Talk” a couple of years ago was missing, as was the expected rapport between the two performers and between audience and artistes.

First half highlights included a clever and classy intertwining of “The Very Thought of You” with “I Thought About You”, and “Some Cats”, made famous by Peggy Lee. But when the tempo was upped, as in Irving Berlin’s “Heaven”, there was a lack of sparkle and drive to the proceedings.

Ms Martin seemed a little less uptight in the second half and there was better teamwork between the performers, particularly in their “Sweet and Slow” duet, while in “All or Nothing at All” the audience was treated to a piano masterclass from 72-year-old Sir Richard.

Anecdotes of his long career in music were endearing and entertaining, and the evening came to a pleasantly swinging conclusion with When The Lights are Low” and “As Time Goes By”.