London's West Hampstead Arts Club, with its great intimate retro upstairs bar, as well as its downstairs bohemian living room style feel, was surprisingly suited tonight not only to the super Sari Schorr and her band, but also support from upcoming, charming Chloe Wilson. Indeed, both artists are fiercely independent talents, and quite rightly so, as their original lyrical compositions and arrangements this evening were like rubies.

Milton Keynes based Chloe, with her long flowing hair, was fresh faced as well as expressive on keys, immediately engaging with her audience. Producing perfectly pitched beautiful vocals, Wilson’s solo set featured 'Broken Me', 'Piece Of A Lover', 'Love Somebody', 'Catch Me Running' plus a cover of Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game'. Chloe was an enjoyable, enchanting and an ascending artist to watch.

Having just finished recording her brand-new album, as well as stopping off tonight as part of her current twelve-date Running Wild UK tour, as expected, Sari Schorr performed and produced a superb set. The last time I saw Sari was also in London with guitarist Ash Wilson at her helm, albeit previously, thanks to a delayed flight, I was gutted to miss her when she appeared during the Le Mans Festival in France! So this evening I was delighted to have the opportunity to see Sari again.

Schorr's backstory is so impressive, and I so admire her feisty spirit, flowing locks, vocal delivery and powerful, passionate style. Her 2016 debut album was the very apt, 'A Force of Nature', produced by the late, renowned Mike Vernon. A classically trained opera singer, with an impressive octave range, Sari’s 2023 collaboration on 'Joyful Sky', with the incredible, living legend and guitarist Robin Trower, debuted at No. 1 in the BillBoard Blues Charts.

This latest tour was also an opportunity for her to give this evening's privileged, most appreciative audience, a showcase taste of original material for her upcoming album, and we were therefore lucky enough to be tonight's attentive music food tasters, scooping up and digesting Sari’s delicious music!

Schorr majestically and skilfully used her freefalling and rising vocality as a powerful instrument soaring across the arrangements of tonight's set. Indeed, with a tremelo and arperggio range, ascending and descending through the scales, Sari combined not only shades of Blues and BluesRock, but also encompassed elements of Jazz Prog Rock, Classical Rock and Operatic scoring .

Schorr is also a wonderful communicator with her audience. Tonight's narrative, with her warm, native New Yorker, liberalistic, humanitarian attitude, embraced the themes of life, paying homage to her Father, Grandfather and significant musical figures, which was expounded upon by Sari with warmth, charm, passion and wit.

Indeed, with fire in her voice, Schorr is a musical powerhouse, blending past influences, along with a hippie fashion sense, and tonight her excellent band so suited her. Lead guitarist Jamie Walker used not only a Fender but also a retro Gibson Les Paul (bought from Ash Wilson apparently!), as he skilfully partnered Sari on stage playing lead in chords and riffs with rich retro tonality when required.

Also comprising Martin Jacoby on keys, who played with cool concentration and skilful intensity, it was also a delight to hear Russ Parker on his retro drum kit, providing the core to the band, bringing the driving beat home from the back of the small stage. Completing the quintet, Carl Stanbridge on Fender P bass provided perfectly alighted rich retro attuned combined chords and tonality, underlaying Walker’s top notes!

Against Schorr’s deep throated, rich vocal vibrato, her quartet complemented her perfectly alongside the familiar 'Ain’t Got No Money', 'King of Rock and Roll', 'Ordinary Life', 'Valentina' and their encore 'Love The One You’re With', as well as Schorr’s newer numbers, that also delighted the audience. A shout out also to Alex, who was wearing a cool Gibson T shirt, for the great sound this evening. As for Schorr, tonight she showed energy, raw emotion, fire, passion, a fiercely independent spirit and style.

I salute you Sari! Until the next time!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester