Michelle David and the True-tones

It was good to be back at the Jazz Cafe last night - for the first time since the pandemic - and particularly good seeing Michelle David and the True-tones for the first time. They have toured extensively in Europe for the last few years and were supposed to be appearing at the Jazz Cafe at the end of last year but the show was delayed because of COVID. It was worth the wait. Michelle is a force of nature. Backed by Dutch trio the True-tones the North Carolina born singer tore the place apart with a series of high energy gospel infused soul and funk numbers which got the audience dancing and waving their arms. The group - led by Onno Smit and Paul Williemson - provided excellent backing as Michelle showed that she has talent a plenty. Her upbeat numbers were exciting while slower numbers showed that she has a light soft voice when necessary. The group have recorded four albums of 'Gospel Sessions' and many of her songs - all original apart from an excellent rendition of Curtis Mayfield's 'Keep On Pushing' - came from the latest of these. She began with 'Yes I Am', which answers the question of whether she is her brother's keeper in the affirmative. Other soulful gospel numbers followed and there was a decidedly revivalist gospel edge to numbers such as 'Taking It Back', (from 'Gospel Sessions Volume Three'), which featured Michelle performing some 'crazy dancing' as she termed it, which resulted in her kicking off her shoes and some of her jewellery. Things slowed down for 'There's A Place' which showed her excellent voice off to good effect, and 'Keep On Pushing', followed by another great song from her new album 'Second Chance'. More up tempo gospel soul followed with 'Good Good Good', the lead off track on the latest album, and Michelle was really belting it out by this stage as she urged the audience to raise their hands, which they duly did. As an encore she sang a couple of funk filled gospel numbers including 'Love', another song from the latest album. All in all this was a highly enjoyable show. Comparisons with Sharon Jones come to mind, but Michelle definitely has enough individuality to make a mark on her own account.