If the songs Jim Moray sings are epic, then his performance tonight can only be called heroic. Battling against throat problems, he nonetheless rose against the odds and delivered a soulful performance of great beauty. From the first plangent chords of Dives and Lazarus to the beautiful waterfalls of sound accompanying Two Sisters, Jim Moray held us all spellbound.
It was a strange venue, very plush, and not quite what I had expected on a first visit. However, Jim transformed it with his heartfelt vocals and sometimes simple but often complex accompaniment on piano and guitar. Other highlights included a beautiful rendition of the Shirley Collins song Guilderoy and a 'double bill' of Night Visiting with its Philip Glass-like piano figure underpinning the spooky lyrics, and Bella Hardy's gorgeous Three Black Feathers, a song performed magnificently on record by both Bella and Jim but which reached even greater heights this evening.
If there's anyone who has yet to be convinced of Jim Moray's ability to make folk music thrilling and contemporary without jettisoning its traditional spirit (can there be anyone?) then go see him live or listen to his CDs. Perfect.
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