Does what it says on the tin.
Perth Based Whittaker belted out Etta James songs, with a Bessie Smith thrown into the mix, with passion and feeling. She's got a voice that's well up to paying tribute to one of the all time greats of blues, jazz and soul, and the personality to put on a good show.
But. She deserved better than the five piece band - guitar, keyboard, piano, bass and drums - were able to deliver on the day. The wonderful percussionist Signy Jakobsdottir did a sterling job of trying to hold it all together, but there was always a feeling of being under rehearsed as an outfit, and a little shambolic at times. That doesn't mean they were bad, but not up to the standard we've come to expect from JazzFest bands, and the one Whittaker's vocals deserved.
On another night this would probably have been a much better gig, but on this occasion I left underwhelmed.
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