Corinne Bailey Rae brought sunshine on a sunny day to Hyde Park, with her versatile blend of jazz-tinged soul.

Accompanied by keyboards, guitar and drums, she opened with Been To The Moon and Closer before a Bob Marley cover of Is This Love showed her warmth and soul.

The bouncy Paris Nights/New York Mornings exemplifies her unique style, delicate soul-filled vocals over a dreamy soundscape background, augmented by the giant video screen behind her showing sweeping barren landscapes.

“Seeing as we’re on before Stevie [Wonder] we wanted to play one of his songs for you” preceded a funky version of Love Having You Around from his Music Of My Mind album.

 Call Me When You Get This shows Bailey Rae at her soulful best, with vocal comparisons to Aretha Franklin’s phrasing of her song Call Me but with far more sophisticated lyrics. Put Your Records On“is about finding your identity. For all the young people here, I hope you find your identity.”

Her 2006 breakthrough single Like A Star preceded the rockier closer The Skies Will Break from her The Heart Speaks Whispers album which she “wrote for anyone who’s having a hard time”.

Bailey Rae was having a fun time, having abandoned her guitar for the last song, bouncing up and down, exuding charisma and great warmth to the crowd.

Fans of Bailey Rae will be delighted to hear that she is currently recording her fourth album, for release in 2020. An interview with her will appear on this site shortly.

Words and Live Photo by Chaz Brooks