I just love it when I discover a fabulous voice. And Harriet has got one fabulous voice.
So, let's address the obvious. Harriet's vocal is very similar to that of my favourite all time vocalist, Karen Carpenter. That same rich timbre and vocal delivery. Singing songs that the late Karen would be delighted to sing. And the Acapela is the perfect venue for such a voice. With the added attraction of being a talented songwriter as well as a fabulous vocalist.
Complete with a solid band and backing vocalists, Harriet delivered a set of two halves. Very much the vogue these days. With only her debut album behind her, Harriet gave us a mixture of songs from that album and a varied selection of covers designed to highlight her glorious voice.
She kicked off with the smooth FM sheen of What's Mine Is Yours.
With her voice suitably warmed up, Harriet moved on to Whoever You Are. It's a brave choice to open an album with a ballad but if it's the quality of her album opener, Afterglow, which comes up next, then you're on very solid ground. It's the slower songs that really showcase her beautiful voice. It's also a pleasure to find out that Harriet can perform live as well as she does on record. (cd)
Harriet's eponymous debut does not only contain ballads but also a selection of uptempo numbers that fit well into the BBC Radio 2 schedules, which is surely where the majority of her audience must reside.
You can usually guage an artist by their choice of covers and Harriet, whether in consultation with her musical advisers or of her own volition has shown tremendous taste in her selection of covers in the show.
Fleetwood Mac's Dreams may come as no surprise but maybe people weren't expecting a version of Keane's Everybody's Changing, which she pulls off beautifully.
But the real highlight for me of Part One of the show was Harriet's performance of the George Michael song, You Have Been Loved, which was a real show stopper and garnered rapturous applause from an appreciative audience.
Choosing to end Part One with one of her strongest self penned numbers was a wise move and First And Last completed an excellent first half performance.
A special mention too for Harriet's band tonight who brought the songs to life and where beautifully supportive in every aspect of their performance.
Part Two began with Harriet and solo piano and two absolutely stunning songs in The Best Is Yet To Come and Eagles Desperado. And this is where you could really hear the richness and tone of Harriet's gorgeous vocal delivery.
The band then took to the stage for Never Not Remember and the uptempo loveliness of Permission To Kiss from the album.
It was now the final part of the show and time to kick off those shoes as we are treated to three more uptempo numbers which proved that Harriet is NOT only a ballad singer.
We had interpretations of S Club 7's Reach and a lovely version of the Andrew Gold classic, Lonely Boy.
We are the treated to Fly from the album which closes the show.
Harriet returned for a two song encore. Beginning with a killer version of the ballad Unlove You with just a piano accompaniment. The band then return as Harriet closes with Broken For You.
I'm so glad I was able to catch Harriet early in her career as I think she has great things ahead and will be venues much larger than the Acapela by the end of 2017.
Harriet is about to release a deluxe version of her debut - which is a great place to get to know this lovely singer and talented songwriter who is very much bathed in old school attention to detail and emotion which is lacking in so much of today's processed pop.
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