Emma Smith and Jamie Safir
Smith and Safir
The Pheasantry, London, U.K, December 21, 2018
Reviewed by Thanasis Kalantzis for Cabaret Scenes
Just before Christmas, singer Emma Smith and pianist Jamie Safir took their show Smith and Safir to the iconic Pheasantry. As I had missed their previous appearances in other venues around town, I was looking forward to it. These two young, highly talented artists have been the talk of the town for some time now and for all the right reasons.
Having started at the tender age of 14 and now in her 20s, Smith has shared the stage with Robbie William, Michael Bublé, and Cleo Laine. She has won jazz awards, released her acclaimed album (The Huntress), and has had all the jazz clubs in London demanding her talent.
In his mid-twenties, Safir is the music director every self-respecting jazz singer in London has—or should want to—associate their names with. The guy is a simply exceptional pianist whose stellar reputation has been cemented with appearances with Will Young, Olly Murs, and Ian Shaw.
This was an evening made in heaven.
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Their carefully considered song list reflected all the meticulous work the artists had done in their attempt to give us new, amazingly rich renditions of all their songs, while their stage presence remained natural, warm, and confident throughout. Keeping up with the festivities, they turned the steam up with a sensational “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” and continued with “Sleigh Ride”; later on they performed “Winter Wonderland.” From the American Songbook they chose a slow “Night and Day” that transitioned into a lovely Latin beat, These were followed by “Teach Me Tonight,” which came with a sweet and mellow scat, and two Burt Bacharach/Hal David eternals—“Alfie,” beautifully conveyed by Smith’s vast vocal pallette, and the lighter “Wives and Lovers,” which put a smile on our faces. Both artists admitted the immense influence Nancy Wilson had on their evolution, so they paid their respects by giving us the beautiful ballad “Guess Who I Saw Today,” during which Smith’s clear, cool performance addressed all the issues the story raises, as well as “On the Street Where You Live” which, guess what?—was not corny! Vocals and piano came in perfect harmony when they sang Julia Michaels’ “Issues,” a rendition that will stay with me and was a real showstopper. They finished with “Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child” and had the house on its feet dancing and singing along, while Safir’s fingers were flying across the keys.
If there is one word to describe Smith’s vocals it is versatility. She can shift between traditional, jazz, and pop tunes with extreme ease, making each song a unique experience executed with maturity and panache.
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Nevertheless, it’s the collaboration with Safir’s brilliance on the piano that contributed immensely into making the evening the success that it was.
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I loved it!
