“On a clear day you can see forever“ states one of the famous jazz standards. The opening of the London Jazz Festival however didn't seem clear at all, but that is probably a good solution as there is a strong diversity of musical days to follow.

Jazz Voice was one of the opening acts and main performance of that first day and although it featured some of the great singers and performers in today's popular and jazz music, some of them actually having a debut performance, it itself ended up as no more than a variety show. The singers kept shuffling from tune to tune, from mood to mood. They were accompanied by a fully arranged rhythm section, big band and string orchestra. This orchestra type, a reminiscent of pop performed by Frank Sinatra and the likes, was not itself used as a creative medium and the very sound shifted much more to the produced side than to the inspired if put blankly.

Overall, the performance had a populist edge, showcased good singers but didn't carry much artistic quality at all.

– Mak Murtic