THE QUEEN OF JAZZ
From The Independent archive: Chris Mugan’s 2004 verdict on Amy Winehouse’s home-turf concert of acclaimed ‘Frank’
The Jazz Cafe was packed and the crowd expectant, especially as this gig was home turf for the north Londoner Amy Winehouse. The 20-year-old spent the time between songs pointing out mates in the audience, and revealed herself to be as forthright as her songs – in pointed heels and a plain black dress with straps that insisted on slipping off her shoulders.
Her debut album Frank (2003) takes in swing, hip-hop, soul and jazz, but the musicians here provided a more perfunctory backing. And rightly so, for the star of the show was Winehouse's extraordinary silky voice. Despite her age, she sang the sultry “Round Midnight” and “In My Bed” in a deep, smoky manner that brought to mind veterans such as Cleo Laine.
It was a surprisingly demure performance. On record, Winehouse is often jaw-droppingly direct, a motormouth. Here, her most incisive lines were lost in a scat style of running words together in one sweet flow. Only at the end did Winehouse make clear that she was unhappy providing background music for polite dinner parties, when the brass section departed for a stark, stripped-down version of “Pumps”.
Winehouse has come a long way very quickly, so it may be a while before she gains the confidence to match her studio abilities live. She always said her original ambition was to be a lounge singer, and that could turn out to be a disappointingly accurate prophecy.