Tuesday, May 14, 2024
The Jazz Cafe, London
Fresh from performing on some of the world’s biggest stages as one-quarter of classic girl group All Saints, Shaznay Lewis’ solo show at London’s iconic Jazz Cafe marked a new beginning for the singer-songwriter.
Having written the bulk of the band’s biggest hits, her pop credentials are unquestioned, but stepping out before 450 devout fans at the Camden venue the nerves were apparent as Shaznay dived head-first into a set largely composed of new material, kicking off with ‘Pages’ opener Missiles.
Those apprehensions were unfounded, however, with all eyes on the artist and her band as they delivered 10 of the album’s 12 tracks, with Shaznay’s smooth vocals bringing to life songs like the lush lead single Miracle, uplifting Pick You Up and powerful Bruises.
Kiss Of Life – another single from the new album – led into All Saints classic Black Coffee as one of only a handful of moments that looked to the past in the future-facing show.
Bandmate Melanie Blatt was in the crowd but didn’t appear on stage; instead, it was Shola Ama and General Levy that joined Shaznay for a high energy performance of radio hit Good Mourning, with two backing vocalists helping execute her intricately layered studio recordings in the live setting.
‘Pages’ is Shaznay’s second solo album, but she took a moment to revisit her 2004 debut, ‘Open’, with the Top 10 smash Never Felt Like This Before, often pausing to wave to familiar faces in the crowd and even glancing up at the balcony and beaming ‘Hi, mummy’ during one candid moment.
If the reaction of the crowd was any indication of how ‘Pages’ will be received then Shaznay’s onto a winner, with the enigmatic Hearts In Danger quickly getting bodies moving, along with the double-hit of Tears To The Floor and Got To Let Go, and the penultimate song in the main set, Supposed To Be.
Towards the end of the show, it was the crowd that delivered a word-perfect spoken introduction to All Saints’ Never Ever, with the final song, the classic Pure Shores, erupting into a full venue sing-along and serving a final reminder of Shaznay’s iconic legacy.
With 30 years of hits behind her and two decades on from her last outing, it’s a bold move to relaunch her solo career at this stage, but if her Jazz Cafe set proved anything it’s that Shaznay has not only crafted a sublime body of work, but can step out into the spotlight on her own and be every inch the pop superstar.
Setlist: Shaznay Lewis – The Jazz Cafe, London
1. Missiles
2. Kiss of Life
3. Black Coffee
4. Miracle
5. Hearts In Danger
6. Never Felt Like This Before
7. Got To Let Go
8. Tears To The Floor
9. Good Mourning
10. Never Ever
11. Supposed To Be
12. Pick You Up
Encore
13. Bruises
14. Pure Shores
