PRAISE INDEED, THANK YOU

Mood Indigo Concert, Pontesbury

How fortunate we were to be in the audience last night – we so much enjoyed the wonderful eclectic mix of music and it more than exceeded our expectations.  T J.

Brilliant performance, velvet voice. We’re first in the queue for tickets for the next one! 

 “A fabulous evening”, “ a wonderful combo”, “superb”, “great talent”

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Devon – 2023

Vocalist Val Sinclair is known to have oodles of personality and she certainly lived up to that, engaging the audience right from the beginning.  Vocally superb, she gave her trademark voice, a beautifully plummy/velvet tone, to standards such as Ellington’s ‘Mood Indigo’, then completely reinvented herself as she growled her way through rock/blues numbers. ‘Stormy Monday’, was indeed a storm of vocal supremacy as she passionately weaved her way under and over each verse.

Moving away completely from the jazz/blues genre, she treated the audience to a  fabulously sensitive version of Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol), performed in harmony with the musicians. It totally engaged the audience – the silence was golden!   There was some lovely vocal harmony on ‘Everything I Do Gon Be Funky’.  Great fun.

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It was an evening full of exquisite musical moments and showed band members who were obviously relaxed and comfortable with each other.  They also had a great deal of fun as they treated the audience to an absolute feast of talent.

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Around 90 people in Budleigh Salterton’s Public Hall enthusiastically listened to Val Sinclair as she fronted the Sizzling Jazz and Blues Band with Pat Brandon. The lively audience were really appreciative of the quality of musicianship from Val, and they were captivated by Marius Rudnick’s nimble flute, lively clarinet, wailing tenor sax and rounded baritone sax; by Pete Canter’s mellifluous and sonorous double bass; by Jim Newton’s agile and driving drums; and by Pat Brandon’s sparkling piano.

Val herself simply oozes warmth and personality and she quickly had the audience in her hands! A highlight among many was “Baddest Blues” which could break you heart! The band played Ravel’s “Pavane for a dead princess” in a brilliant jazz adaptation. Pat dazzled the audience with his “Home for tea” which belied his arthritic fingers! The band also played his foot-tapping “The bells are ringing out for springtime”. The whole team returns to Knowle Village Hall on Saturday June 29th as part of the Budleigh Salterton Festival of Jazz and Blues.

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The usual superb vocals.  Wonderful keyboard playing, drums played with great precision, double bass solos creative and walking bass very steady and precise.  Saxophone and flute flowed right from the start, soaring with some lovely solos and the harmonica broke all the boundaries with some amazing playing.

More of your lovely comments

“Thanks for the time during my visit to the UK. I really enjoyed meeting you and so appreciate the talent and power of your voice – you are truly gifted – an inspiration to those of us who aspire. Also please tell Gerry (Prusiewicz) how much I enjoy his playing and approach to the guitar – he is great!” This morning I am listening to your album on a good stereo and it is absolutely wonderful – great production that supports your wonderful voice – think Billie Holiday singing god bless the child. The album has great texture with seamless synergy between you and the musicians – wonderful result!  Mark Warner, Louisiana, USA

(Thank you Mark for your encouraging comments. I loved the jam session we had while you were in the UK, for me it was a ‘master class’ in singing the blues, very special indeed, and I’m looking forward to working together in the USA  –  Val)

Most of us know Val Sinclair as one of that breed of (jazz) singers who can make a venue feel deliciously smoky with her voice of pure, deep velvet…. A superb concert band”  Prof Mike McCarthy

“A fabulous concert in Hereford Cathedral with the marvellous Val Sinclair”.  Press review

“Val Sinclair, you stole the show as always! Wowing the crowd, you sang low down and raunchy one minute (Don’t Mess With My Man), sweet and gentle the next (You’ll Never Be The Sun), and everything in between – the crowd loved you to bits! There’s nobody like you!” Pat Brandon

“This woman is so polished, so professional, has a glorious voice and is a joy to work with”  Joe Stringer

“Some vocalists just sing, but some are ‘singers’. Val Sinclair (and Martin Leigh) are indeed “singers” Press review for Galaxy Big Band