There are some songs that don't simply remind you of a particular time - they transport you there. At The Circuit in Kingston-upon-Thames last week, Johnny Hates Jazz and Jaki Graham proved that great pop and soul don't merely survive the decades; in the right hands, they get better with age.
The occasion was particularly special and celebratory. The show coincided with the release of ‘Soul Believer’, the first collaboration between Johnny Hates Jazz and British soul powerhouse Jaki Graham - a meeting of two distinctive musical worlds that have more in common than might initially appear.
And judging by the reaction inside The Circuit, audiences were more than ready to believe.
Johnny Hates Jazz opened the evening with ‘Magnetized’, immediately establishing the band's trademark combination of sophisticated pop, melodic songwriting and beautifully polished arrangements. ‘Foolish Heart’, ‘Greater Good’ and ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Hero’ followed, with Clark Datchler's unmistakable voice providing a direct connection to the sound that made Johnny Hates Jazz international stars.
Then came the first appearance from Jaki Graham - and the temperature in the room changed.
Graham launched into ‘Could It Be I’m Falling in Love’, before moving into ‘Set Me Free’, two songs that demonstrated precisely why her voice has remained so distinctive. Powerful without being forced, soulful without losing its pop sensibility, Graham delivered every line with the confidence of someone who knows exactly how much feeling a song can carry.
The set, throughout, was beginning to feel less like a nostalgia trip and more like a celebration of a catalogue that still has genuine emotional weight. And then came the moment many in the room had been waiting for: ‘Turn Back the Clock’.The title track of Johnny Hates Jazz's multi-platinum debut album remains a wonderfully evocative piece of pop songwriting. Hearing it live brought home just how strong those melodies remain - elegant, wistful and instantly recognisable.
‘Ain’t Nobody’ brought a more dancefloor-ready energy to the evening, while ‘Soul Believer’ provided the perfect bridge between the artists' past and present.
There was a particularly pleasing symmetry to hearing Graham perform the new song on the same night it was released. Written by Clark Datchler and Average White Band founder Hamish Stuart, ‘Soul Believer’ is built around references to more than 27 classic soul song titles. But rather than feeling like a musical in-joke, the concept works as a genuine love letter to the music that shaped both performers.
Live, the song makes even more sense. Datchler's polished pop instincts and Graham's rich soul delivery complement each other naturally, creating the feeling of a collaboration that somehow should have happened years ago.
But inevitably, the night was building towards one song.When Datchler and Graham came together for ‘Shattered Dreams’, the room erupted. Few songs carry quite the same instant recognition. Originally a worldwide Top 5 hit and one of Johnny Hates Jazz's defining recordings, it sounded every bit as compelling in this setting. Graham's presence added another dimension to a song already deeply embedded in the memories of an entire generation.
And rather than simply ending on the biggest hit of the night, the pair returned for a ‘Soul Believer’ reprise, bringing the evening full circle.It was a fitting conclusion: the past, present and future of two British pop-soul careers meeting on the same stage.
The Kingston show also offered a tantalising preview of what is to come. In 2027, Johnny Hates Jazz will celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Shattered Dreams’ with a new double album, bringing together favourites from across their career alongside four new tracks - with ‘Soul Believer’ leading the way. A subsequent Shattered Dreams – The Tour will see the band joined by Jaki Graham as special guest.
If this performance is anything to go by, that tour promises to be considerably more than a trip down memory lane.
Watch Video For ‘Soul Believer’
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