The latest Jazz Brunch at the Fourcroft saw the very welcome return of Sarah and H. This top notch quartet consisting of Sarah Campbell-Horner (vocals), Hywell Maggs (guitar), supported by Alun Vaughan on bass guitar and Noel Watson (drums) delivered another sparkling performance worthy of any venue in the country.

Sarah has a voice that you could never tire of hearing. Her delivery is almost effortless, she breezes from one song to the next as casually as if she was singing at a family wedding.

Hywell Maggs was as always simply magnificent, making a technically difficult performance look and sound like child's play. He can produce sounds from his guitar that would leave many lesser artistes quaking at the thought of trying. He and Sarah have an almost telepathic understanding of when he is coming in and out of a number. Put the talents of Alun Vaughan and Noel Watson into the mix and you have a quality outfit that enthralled the full house audience.

From start to finish, their performance was quality. Van Morrison to Leonard Cohen; even a bit of Radiohead; they did justice to everything they did. Their encore version of The Beat Goes On was simply superb. Many of the audience, myself included, were sure to be still hearing much of their music in their heads days later.

Many performers often take the easy route and keep to a safe relaxed set of numbers. (Nothing at all wrong with that) after all this is a Sunday lunchtime. However, Sarah and H don't, they stretch themselves in every direction and so obviously enjoy doing it. One of the amazing characteristics of Sarah's voice is that she can sail through so many different genres with ease. When she isn't singing she is moving in perfect rhythm to the beat. She is totally relaxed when she is doing what she so obviously enjoys. That is singing.

Regulars at the Fourcroft Jazz brunches have enjoyed many superb performances from many talented musicians. This performance by Sarah and H. was right up their with the best of them. Missing you already.

Allan Morris