Review of The Sarah J Band

Sarah Mitchell opened for a double-header at Wakefield Jazz with her quintet. Sarah soon endeared herself to the audience with her candour and easy humour. The music was straight-ahead and included several originals which fitted the style perfectly and went down well.    The well-rehearsed band was anchored by Adrian Knowles (bass) and Tim Brickel (drums) and what soloing there was came from Jamie Taylor's smooth guitar and Jason's exuberant piano.    But the whole deal was to support Sarah's characterful voice.  At times as sweet as her looks and at times with a hard edge that digs into a lyric she has a sound all of her own.    Her performance gives the impression of relaxed experience and makes it easy to understand how Alan Bates of Candid was impressed enough to sign her.   She joins Jamie Cullum, Yorkshire's Clare Teal, Stacey Kent and Mishka Adams in the label's roster of vocal stars. Chris de Saram