Richard Lennox

On Saturday night, Susan and Jenny took me along to see Women with Standards at the Gilded Balloon (Teviot).  A group of 4 Australian vocalists and a local jazz trio making the most of some powerful voices belting out not only Jazz standards but other Diva-esque songs.  And boy can those Women sing.  I don;t know if any one has seen the TV advert for Sheila's Wheels insurance with four Australian Women singing a really dodgy song.  Well having said yes I wouldn't mind being entertained with some Jazz standards on a Saturday night, Susan then puts that into my head and the vision of the dodgiest ad and those four Australian "singers", which got me looking.  Was I not relieved when they belted out the first number.

I must say they had amazing voices for such a range of women and with a very tight band were superb.  To be honest though their attempts at humour and chit-chat were not up to scratch.  They were touted as being comediennes but there brand of comedy really didn't wash.  They could quite easily of made it a full blown singing show, a proper feast of the standards but instead they chose to utilise their underdeveloped comic talents.  It would have been fabulous in a venue that wasn't rows of seats and was informal.  A good jazz bar or somewhere with table service and the areas for a chat.  Make it less of a cabaret and more of a understated show and it would be one of the best shows to see. 

If you get the chance do go and see them somewhere, they are great singers.