With vocals and guitar from Sophie Bancroft and bass from Tom Lyne, the Acoustic Music Centre at St. Bride’s was treated to some stripped-down Jazz music. Performing both classic songs and new material, Bancroft and Lyne filled the hour with tracks from their new album, You Turned The Tables On Me and played older tracks, interspersing the music with friendly anecdotes about the songs and their influence on the musicians.
The original pieces were mostly written by Bancroft, who described how her musical compositions were influenced by the likes of Billy Holliday and Doris Day, while her lyrics reflected events in her own life. Covering songs ranging from Sonny Rollins to a jazzed-up version of Robert Burns’ Cannae Sew Cushions, the pair managed to hold their own against their musical idols, with Bancroft’s voice perfectly blending with Lyne’s incredible finger work on both the double bass and bass guitar. While the songs with just voice and guitar did seem a little too sparse, the performers’ talent was never in question.
Even taking the request for an encore, playing an unrehearsed version of Calgary Bay, Bancroft and Lyne kept their audience entertained throughout the set. The hour flew by, and thanks to the intimate setting, the anecdotes and the warmth of the two performers, it was like an evening with old friends.
