Corinne Bailey Rae

When Corinne Bailey Rae sings, joy emanates from every part of her being. Her delightfully diminutive form dominated the Dome stage – here is a woman who clearly loves what she does.

From the outset Rae enchanted the audience, effortlessly singing hits old and new, including a gorgeous rendition of the classic Bob Marley track ‘Is This Love?’.

At times it felt as though I was privy to a private studio session, due to the organic, intuitive relationship Rae shares with her accomplished band. They became so immersed in the music, it was almost as if the audience had melted away. At other times she drew the assemblage back in to her musical world, with sing backs that almost everyone participated in.

My only criticism is that the set became slightly intense at the halfway mark, the loudness and pace of the music overwhelmed me momentarily. Other than that it was an absolute privilege to see this incredibly talented artist perform.

A special mention must be given to supporting act Jodie Abacus, whose luxurious soulful tones were the perfect precursor to the main event, definitely one to watch.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 4 November 2016

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