Concert & Published Reviews

'De-Lovely'

Janet Seidel Live at the NGA - Wednesday 21st September

Part of the Bloom Music Festival reviewed by Greg Marginson

Janet appeared live at the NGA with brother David on double bass, and Chuck Morgan on guitar. Her unadorned crystal clear voice and infectious humour and patter it is a winning combination. Featuring the very best of Cole Porter, Janet and her band perform memorable favourites like, I Get a Kick Out of You, Night and Day, Love For Sale and many more.
Janet offered us a uniquely personal, classic and sophisticated take on the greatest American lyricist and composer in one, Cole Porter. Porter's output of 800 songs is a rich booty to plunder, but Janet made it her own. Its hard not to compare her to Doris Day, Peggy Lee or even the more eccentric Blossom Dearie, all of whom she has performed tributes to in her career, and it's definitely fair to say that her understanding of the classics is equal to that of those legendary greats.

Seidel's lyrical understatement consistently shone, beginning with her opening number the signature tune 'Delovely'. It was also carried through on ballads as well as up-tempo numbers, as she accompanied herself on piano. Janet's version of 'Love for Sale' in which a slow version of the blues is heard instead of the common quick swing brought to mind the much more disappointing Manhattan Transfer concert recently. On the one hand you hear a group that should still be at the peak of its musical power, but completely underwhelms and underdelivers, rather than the approach Janet takes to communicate and deliver enormous pleasure and delight in every song.

You might have expected a concert style performance may have lacked the intimacy of a jazz lounge but I found the whole experience pleasantly refreshing and her direct style in the Fairfax Theatre made the experience as intimate as any club environment. If you missed this concert and love good music make sure you don't next time.