Madeleine Peyroux’s extraordinary journey through life brings the American jazz singer/songwriter once again to Tyneside.
Now 23 years since the release of her debut album Dreamland, Peyroux is back with her ninth studio album Anthem.
Having honed her craft performing on the streets of Paris, tonight’s majestic venue, the Sage Gateshead, being somewhat of a far cry from where the Brooklyn native originally started out. However, being a road warrior, wherever the genre-defying chanteuse lays her hat is home.
Peyroux is joined onstage by an incredible four-piece backing band that includes Steely Dan guitarist Jon Harrington. Collectively Peyroux and her uber-talented jazz ensemble take the crowd through an eclectic set.
Madeleine transports the audience to a Parisian jazz club with the sounds of Our Lady of Pigalle and a flawless solo acoustic rendition of Josephine Baker’s J’ai Deux Amores.
Of course, Peyroux is keen to showcase her latest offering with several tracks from Anthem featuring including one of the cheerier songs in the set – On My Own along with the funky uptempo number Down On Me. Whilst Peyroux’s Latin influences shine through during the incredibly infectious Honey Party.
There is also room for Peyroux’s spellbinding cover of Leonard Cohen’s Anthem, from which her latest album titled originated.
On the other hand, the blues side of Peyroux’s repertoire shines through during her harmonious take on Willie Dixon’s If The Sea Was Whiskey and the fingerpicking blues of Trampin.
Having encountered a wonderful summers day in the North East, Peyroux dedicates the joyous Isn’t It A Lovely Day to the weather. And of course, there’s room for a singalong during the second Leonard Cohen track of the set Dance Me To The End of Love.
The main set is brought to its conclusion with Careless Love, during which each member of the group take their moment in the spotlight before an encore airing of Getting Some Fun Out of Life brings the show to its jazzy conclusion.
This evening’s concert traverses Peyroux’s extensive back catalogue as well as drawing from her many different sounds and influences. It goes without saying that Brooklyn based artist continues to push herself both creatively and artistically. Madeleine Peyroux is the perfect example of contemporary jazz at its best.
Madeleine Peyroux
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Event Date: 08-July-2019