Sue Parish  

  Jazz Vocalist 

  REVIEWS 

06/05/05 - Jazz Rendezvous

On April 17th, we welcomed for the first time vocalist Sue Parish, and comments from our regulars at the end confirmed that it had been a very enjoyable evening. This was the first time we’d had a guest vocalist since Edwina used to sing regularly at the JR, but we’ll certainly invite Sue back for a return visit, probably in the autumn.

Ably abetted by fellow guests Terry Porter (reeds), Don Long (trombone) and Malcolm Hogarth (piano), Sue covered a range of material from traditional jazz favourites like Ain’t Misbehavin’, Bill Bailey and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love to mainstream standards like The Lady Is A Tramp, Autumn Leaves, Don’t Blame Me and Lullaby Of Birdland. One particularly enjoyable number was the theme from Black Orpheus, with its gentle latin rhythm and some fine flute work from Terry Porter.

Apparently Sue has a predilection for “happy songs” and she imbued the more up-tempo numbers with a joie de vivre which is clearly part of her personality. Her voice has richness and warmth (particularly in the lower registers), an appealing velvety quality ideal for ballads, and a three-octave range which she is not afraid to use. She clearly loves singing and that enjoyment comes over to the audience. Also, from a musician’s point of view, she’s easy to work with, a not inconsiderable virtue !

So, another first for the JR, and we look forward to seeing Sue again in the autumn. 

The region's undisputed Queen of Jazz - Virtual Lancaster. 

http://www.virtual-lancaster.net/ 

18/02/05

Howard Byrom
Lancaster Guardian
15/10/04

"Their playing had an awareness that wouldn't have been out of place in Ronnie Scott's....Sue's sumptuous voice wraps itself like a huge velvet bow around her band's perfect package of jazz standards" 

Fred Burnett
Reviewing "The Pendle Jazzmen with Sue Parish"

Sue Parish sang brilliantly, as always, and her rendition of Doctor Jazz has to be the best I'd heard for some time. Sue went down a storm with the packed audience, and it's special credit when the landlord asks you for a copy of  photographs you've been taking, to put on the wall!

Karen Ann Dyke
North and West Lancs Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Relief

"It was a tremendous privilege to hear you sing - you so obviously enjoy entertaining people with your sensational voice and that certainly comes across to your audience."

Sue Paylor 
Reviewing 'Sue Parish and Band' 
Gregson Centre

Sue Parish unashamedly has a passion for happy songs. Her evening ' Blue skies over Rainbows' at the Gregson Centre (Fri19/4/02) had a wide-ranging collection of just such songs. The audience comfortably filled the appropriate cabaret style hall and was eased into a beautiful programme by Sue's band. The band comprising of, Andy Smith on drums, Vinny Parker on keyboards, Lawrence Canty on bass guitar and Jon Moore on lead guitar(s) played two mellow tunes, 'James' and 'Mercy, mercy, mercy' to create the atmosphere for Lancaster's No1 diva, Sue Parish, resplendent in a flowery dress reminiscent of summer meadows.

Sue immediately launched into an upbeat version of 'Blue Skies' which set the tone for a wonderful evening. Sue moved through her programme with an easy style. Her voice positively glided over the notes and words with the smoothness of butterscotch and cream. Sue version of 'This time the dreams on me' had a breathtaking guitar solo from Jon and was followed by a raunchy adaptation of 'Is you is or is you ain't my baby', that Sue had recently sung at Burnley Blues festival. Sue continued to illustrate the range of her very fine voice with a delightful rendition of 'Cheek to Cheek'. All the time the atmosphere was warming. The song, the candlelight, theatre lights and the wine had this reviewer going off into a world of 40s dance halls, seamed stockings, flouncy skirts and the G.I. getting the girl. Even Sue herself remarked that she was often stuck in the 30s and 40s, when it came to choosing songs. Her version of Cyndi Lauper's 'Time after Time' was however bang up to date. It was delivered in the style of Eva Cassidy and had a haunting fragility that was touching and had one member of the audience admit to a lump in her throat, it was so beautiful. Sue's seventh number, 'Nobody loves you when your down and out' was attacked with real gusto and was toe tappingly good, with a splendid piano solo from Vinny. The first half continued with a difficult and extraordinarily fast version of ' I've got everything I need', which had robins, roses and friendship all delivered at the speed of a buzzing bee. It was an amazing tongue twister, which left one both frazzled and excited and clapping for more. The last two numbers before the interval were once again unashamedly about spring. Certainly, Sue's version of ' You must believe in Spring' could be prescribed as a 'must listen to' in the deep dark days of winter to keep the head together. 


The second half was opened by 'I ain't got nothing but the Blues' with Sue looking golden in a sequinned, slinky dress. (She remarked after the concert that it made her feel like a mermaid.) This number had us all swaying in our seats and continued to build on the relaxed atmosphere created earlier .An upbeat version of 'Walk beneath raindrops' brought a more contemporary feel and was followed a little known Doris Day song called 'Put in a box', which had a sceptical attitude to romance with a lyric; - put in a box, tie with a ribbon and drown them in the deep blue sea. Sue sang this song with just the correct amount of disdain and a splendid scrunched up nose. This song led seamlessly to the next, as a reference to its title 'Tea for 2' was held in the previous song! By now the reviewer was feeling well chilled and words escaped her as a cry 'what a band' came from the audience. This led neatly into the theme from the South Bank Show being played by a trio of Vinny, Andy and Lawrence. 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' slowed down the tempo beautifully. John accompanied Sue, picking at chords with his fingers while clenching his plectrum firmly between his teeth. Birds certainly flew over the rainbow to this number, with more than hint of Eva Cassidy in the air. In fact my scribbling pen stilled, breath held in awe of this beautiful moment. We were then smoothly moved into a swing with a foot-tapping version of 'Let's fall in Love' by Cole Porter. 

As I ran out of paper to make notes on, Sue moved into a song of passion of one sort or another entitled ' S'wonderful, S'marvellous' and that really is the way to describe this wonderful, positive and marvellous night with Sue Parish and the band she reverently called her dream ensemble. 

Reproduced by kind permission of The Gregson Centre