aaamusic | On 17, Mar 2012

London, 16th March

Caro Emerald, a charming Dutch voice in London.

I went to Roundhouse last night without much of expectations. I lost track, shame on me, on new jazz popular names and besides few article quickly read before the concert, I had no idea who this woman was.

Caro Emeral comes from Amsterdam, notwithstanding her Spanish look and the Latin delightful smile.

I love the Roundhouse, the columns, the sound system and I’m used to hear in this venue loud rock bands. In my tiny brains, jazz and swing are confined to basement dark clubs and candle lights. And, I’m wrong.

The show was a lot of fun, pleasant, happy – even though the lyrics of Caro’s songs aren’t all that joyful.

There were jazz big bands elements (all in perfect smart suits) standing behind retro decorated stands with perfectly kitsch C and E initials engraved.

There was a rockabilly lead guitar that from a perfectly worn black tie ended the show with loose open shirt for the happiness of the ladies.

Caro’s voice is brilliant, vibrant, powerful. It reminded me in some moments Amy Winehouse. Her presence on stage is perfectly designed, she changed her dress three times I suppose.

The screening of images projected on the background was also very creative and interesting. Every song had its on projection with different colours and art style.

A sold out show. The crowd on their 40s constantly clapped and cheered their heroine with passion and happiness. It reminded me when I was nearly 20 and went to see R.E.M. for the first time in Bologna.

At the show, I’ve seen all the reasons of her successful record Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor. A list of seducing songs, from jazz to swing, from rumba to lounge. Among the guitar the piano and the horns there was also a DJ. Yes, a DJ.  Scratching discs here and there, playing sounds and effects, giving a new twist to timeless music.

As she confessed during the show, her success is due to one song, Back It Up the kind of radio-friendly tune that once in your head you can’t stop singing – and so did the audience following Caro’s performance. Other major hits were Stuck and Just One Dance, when my favourite for orchestration and structure was The Other Woman.

The encore dedicated to her first teacher, who came to London to see her show, and encouraged her to start studying jazz, was a sweet evergreen Dream A Little Dream Of Me, a perfect emotional ending.

A fun show, a very talented showgirl redesigning vintage music in the form of pop. A pop record that went number one in Holland for 27 weeks breaking the record held by Thriller, from that famous King, A Night Like This selected for a Martini commercial… It’s business, baby.

Pietro Nastasi