Mavis Staples, Jazz Café | reviews, news & interviews
Mavis Staples, Jazz Café
Mavis Staples, Jazz Café
Gospel and soul singer brings warmth to a cold wet night in north London
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Mavis Staples: 'I ain't tired yet'
When Mavis Staples opens her mouth, remarkable things happen. She hollers, she sobs, she moans, she swoops, she rasps, she croons, she shudders. Not since I last saw Al Green have I seen such a bravura display of vocal prowess. On a rainy night in London, the 71-year-old singer of gospel, soul and R&B was in town for a one-off gig (and also for a Jools Holland appearance) to promote her new album, You Are Not Alone.
When Mavis Staples opens her mouth, remarkable things happen. She hollers, she sobs, she moans, she swoops, she rasps, she croons, she shudders. Not since I last saw Al Green have I seen such a bravura display of vocal prowess. On a rainy night in London, the 71-year-old singer of gospel, soul and R&B was in town for a one-off gig (and also for a Jools Holland appearance) to promote her new album, You Are Not Alone.
Even the way she held the microphone should be a lesson to any young X Factor wannabes who might fancy themselves as “soul” singers
Share this article
Add comment
The future of Arts Journalism
You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!
We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d
And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more New music
Album: Viagra Boys - Viagr Aboys
Louder, weirder and all the way in
Music Reissues Weekly: 1001 Est Crémazie
Privately pressed Canadian jazz album resurfaces for its 50th anniversary
Album: Maria Somerville - Luster
Irish musical impressionist embraces shoegazing
Album: Ronny Graupe's Szelest - Newfoundland Tristesse
A deep, subtle and constantly engaging album
Album: Gigspanner Big Band - Turnstone
Third album from British folk’s biggest big band
Album: Mark Morton - Without the Pain
Second solo album from Lamb of God guitarist lays down hefty southern boogie
Manic Street Preachers, Barrowland, Glasgow review - elder statesmen deliver melody and sing-a-longs
The trio ran through new songs, obscure oldies and big hits in a career spanning set
Album: Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson - What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow
Finger-picking good
Music Reissues Weekly: Motor City Is Burning - A Michigan Anthology 1965-1972
Wide-ranging overview of the US state accommodating Detroit, the ‘rock city’
theartsdesk on Vinyl: Record Store Day Special 2025
What Record Store Day exclusives are available this year?
Album: Joe Lovano - Homage
Free-flowing spontaneity
Album: Bon Iver - SABLE ƒABLE
An album of exquisite wonder
Comments
...
...