13 April 2010 (gig)
16 April 2010
Native New Yorker Nell Bryden treated guests at the Luminaire to an evening of country jazz and Dixie blues, all mixed with plenty of soul and a dash of bluegrass for garnish but poured out in her own unique fashion.
Cutting a decidedly sultry figure framed by long blonde hair and retro clothing, the Brooklyn-born bombshell not only impressed with her rich, smoky voice and a multi-stylistic repertoire, but it’s obvious that she’s is a great songwriter, too!
The evening started with the equally talented Adrian Roye & The Exiles, who set the right atmosphere with their blend of roots-rock n’ soul (please read the review by my colleague, Andy Snipper).
After Adrian’s support slot, Nell took to the stage and immediately captivated the audience with her bubbly personality and music. Mostly performing songs from her album What Does It Take while gracefully working her guitar, the set contained many delights. One of them was the title track - a very upbeat country-infused ditty, slightly reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks, that simply rocks.
‘Not Like Loving You’ is almost the opposite, with its heartfelt, mellow and rather bluesy arrangement the song is a particularly perfect vehicle for highlighting Nell’s magnificent voice.
Another fantastic song was ‘Where The Pavement Ends’ – a more traditional number in the vein of the late Appalachian folk singer Hedy West, for which Nell was joined by Simon Lewis – cellist and backing vocalist of Adrian Roye & The Exiles.
Other songs included ‘Tonight’, a witty and seductive love song, as well as ‘The Second Time Around’ whose my-finger-up-yours-lyrics are the antidote to the aforementioned ‘Tonight’. With its stomping Louisiana-jazz rhythm and a distinct rockabilly vibe, ‘The Second Time Around’ has got to be one of Nell’s best songs ever!
Things turned rather sentimental with ‘Helen’s Requiem’, a song that Nell had dedicated to a special person who drowned in the New Orleans flooding. Nell has worked for a considerable time in New Orleans and it is also the place where she partly recorded her album What Does It Take, so it is no doubt an affair dear to her heart. Here, Nell’s performance was complimented by the unique voice of Adrian Roye, who joined her on stage.
Next, guests were treated to a very special surprise, namely to Nell’s brand new song ‘Buildings & Bridges’, for which she was once again joined by Adrian. It was an exclusive to the gig and went down a treat with the appreciative audience, some of which were fans already since Nell’s previous outing at the Luminaire.
A marvel not to be missed, check out Nell Bryden and band at a venue near you while they are touring the UK!
