The Albert Hall has always been my favourite venue, that is after the Bath Festival showground in 1969, but I'll leave memories of Led Zeppelin, the Nice, Ten Years After, The Taste, Principal Edward's Magic Theatre and Stan Webb for another time.

Diana played standards from the great American songbook in her unique, smooth and sophisticated style, paying homage to such greats as Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee and Irving Berlin along the way. Her take on Walk on By was a long way from Dionne Warwick but spine tingling nevertheless.

The band? Anthony Wilson, Kareem Riggins and Robert Hurst are suitably classy jazz players and contributed to an evening that purred. I don't like the fact that people clap during numbers but it was hard to resist doing so with solos from these three.

My only disappointment was that she didn't play A Case of You, by my favourite Canadian, still, it's on Youtube, or I can always put Blue on.

Nerina Pallot

When I first went to see Nerina Pallot at the Junction Cambridge three years ago I was strongly reminded of Joni Mitchell,. which is no bad thing as far as I am concerned, beautiful voice, melancholy lyrics,piano, acoutsic guitar. The rapport with the audience at this stand up gig was appreciated, I don't remember Joni saying a word between songs, that was years ago in the years of hippy cool, or was it Joni turning into a diva? Mind you, Joni was outdone by Van Morrison - what a miserable git he was, perhaps still is.

Saw Nerina again recently at the more urbane and non atmospheric Stables and she was again brilliant, not solo this time but with a bass player and drummer who just about managed to avoid drowining her voice out. And what a voice it is. She played some songs from her new album but gave us most pleasure with songs from 'Fires'. If you have not heard her, then get on Youtube or somewhere like and play 'Learning to Breathe' or 'Idaho', then go and buy Fires. Wonderful