Tori Amos – Jazz Cafe, Camden.

• 3rd Dec 2009

Not content with her earlier tour this year (and not that long ago either) to promote her “Abnormally Attracted to Sin” album released in the spring, Tori Amos came hurtling back this fall season with a new album based on all things Christmas and Carol. So back she comes again to our shores to play an exclusive show.

This one night show at London’s famous jazz venue is a stripped down affair. It is literally just Amos and her keyboards. No backing music, no band; Just a couple of security bods to escort her to and from the stage for her 90 minute performance.

She mixes up with a few of her better known numbers (each receiving welcome applause) among the more recent material on the new album. And she manages to perform each piece beautifully.

It’s almost a whole different animal watching her play a smaller more intimate venue with only herself on stage. She is still happy to sit posed and constantly flings her looks behind her on far too regular a basis (Either she’s looking out for cars behind her, or spends far too much time walking down dodgy alleyways) and she also has the ability to play opposite keyboards at the same time to impressive effect. So it’s a less showy show, but in that you get to get that much closer to the talent.

Amos has a wonderful voice and the crowd have to problems showing their appreciation. Amos also has no problem in sharing the odd joke with the crowd. At one point she points out that there is the daughter of a friend in the audience; and she realises that her and the friend had spent time abroad doing certain substances a long time ago. But before she can even think to complain about her age there is a very reassuring crowd letting her know how ell she looks even now – not that she needed or asked for the boost.

The show continues to a very warm and pleasant climax. It’s one thing to catch a good artist when they tour, but to have them come back again and do a very different type of show is just a joy for any fan. Whether she has plans to tour… for the hell of it… next year is anyone’s guess, but it may be a little wait until her next release having pushed two out this year.