Cool Singers Jazz Music » Jazz Singers In Performance » Marlene VerPlanck in Swindon

I went to see Marlene VerPlanck at the King's Arms Hotel in Swindon on Thursday. She was in excellent voice, backed by a sparkling trio of Geoff Eales, piano, Roy Babbington, bass, and Clarke Tracey, drums.

She sang for two hours, two one-hour sets with a half-hour break, The first hour was a wide ranging selection of well chosen songs including the title track from her new album It's How You Play The Game by Marlene's husband Billy VerPlanck and the drummer Joe Cocuzzo and a lovely reading of Midnight Sun by Lionel Hampton and Johnny Mercer. The second hour was a tribute to Irving Berlin including Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)? and I Used To Be Colour Blind, both written by Berlin for Fred Astaire and Be Careful, It's My Heart from the film Holiday Inn.

I had a chance to talk to her before the performance and she was very friendly and chatty, I'm looking forward to her next visit to the UK.

Marlene's website is here.