WOMAN TO WOMAN | LIVE REVIEW
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wed 26 June
Female British rock/pop/folk/folk-rock singer-songwriters began blossoming in the mid-60s to mid-70s and Judie Tzuke followed in Sandy Denny, Christine McVie (née Perfect) and Joan Armatrading’s footsteps, along with Kate Bush. Tzuke, in turn, was an early role model and inspiration for Beverley Craven and Julia Fordham, the other two singer-songwriters who complete the Woman To Woman tour. This show was truly one for the ladies, although plenty of men were in attendance.
Each woman came onstage and taking the lead, sang a selection of her songs, sometimes solo and also doing backing vocal duties, often with original videos in the background. Accompanied by a solid band of five musicians, Craven played piano and Fordham guitar – during others’ songs as well as their own. The style was mostly soft- and jazz-rock, Tzuke being the rocker of the three. The material was so personal, poignantly performed and deeply felt, with the audience hanging onto every word and note. These were the women’s stories but were relatable to all.
Craven was first up, and among her compositions were Love Scenes (about an actor ex, and with the alternate title of You Complete Bastard, she noted); Holding On (recalling her divorce and eldest daughter), with the women sounding like a chorus of angels at the end; and 1990’s Promise Me, number 3 in the singles charts at the time and from a million-selling debut album. The emotional core, having undergone chemo and radiotherapy in January, Craven initially battled with breast cancer in 2005 and lost a sister to the disease in 2014; last year the singer underwent a double mastectomy and lymph node surgery. She’s a warrior though, standing tall with her hair slowly growing back and exuding such energy you’d never know what she’s gone through. The women all had a sense of humour but Craven’s was wickedly acerbic, and the crowd gave her a heartwarming welcome back.
Fordham, a former backup vocalist for Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde and who goes, gorgeously so, from a throaty contralto to soprano, followed with songs including Where Does The Time Go from her self-titled debut album, UK Top 20 hit Porcelain, (Love Moves In) Mysterious Ways and the snappy I Want To Stay Home With You, written after the birth of her daughter.
Tzuke, who’s been singing professionally for almost 50 years, completed the circle of goddesses. Most titles came from her 1979 debut, Welcome To The Cruise: Ladies Night, her classic Stay With Me Till Dawn, a stunningly lovely Bring The Rain and For You, classical in tone and displaying the women’s many layered vocals. Tzuke was diagnosed with womb cancer in 2013 but after surgery and treatment has been declared cancer-free, so this was another reason for the celebratory air.
The evening closed out with Safe, another work off the trio’s new, collaborative Woman To Woman album that combines old songs with new ones. Penned by Tzuke and Beth Nielsen Chapman, it’s a strong, loving testament of words for womenfolk everywhere that continued showcasing the stunning harmonies that’s made the trio a female vocal Crosby, Stills and Nash. Tonight was an exquisite and empowered example of sisterhood bonding through music.
words RHONDA LEE REALI photos GARETH GRIFFITHS