What an amazing and special evening it was at Seven Arts on the first concert of the long-awaited tour with vocalist and lyricist Georgia Mancio and pianist and composer Alan Broadbent. Geographical restrictions prevent frequent opportunities to perform together with Georgia based in London and Alan near New York, but with the launch of their third album of original songs, A Story Left Untold, due to be released on 5th May this was a perfect time for the pair to reunite and treat some lucky audiences around the UK to hear the songs performed live.

Some may dispute whether the first night of a tour is a good time to catch a performance. Far better to catch the group mid tour when the music has been played in a little, and also not at the end when tiredness of being on the road can creep in. Well, I can report that there were no such issues in the opening night presented by Jazz Leeds; indeed, there was a positive energy in the room that radiated from the quartet to the audience and back again as the sheer joy of playing together again, and sharing the wonderful songs penned by Alan and Georgia.

Playing songs from all three albums, Songbook, Quiet is the Star and the new recording A Story Left Untold, we were treated to a programme of music of unrivalled beauty, played exquisitely by Georgia. Alan alongside bassist Andrew Cleyndert and Dave Ohm on drums.

The first set opened with a duo performance for voice and piano of the lovely ‘The Love I Left Behind’ from the new album, with Georgia taking her inspiration from the poem ‘For My Wife, Reading in Bed’ by John Glenday, and has written lyrics in both English and Italian. Beautifully accompanied by Alan with a lovely solo the lyrics by Georgia were given a poignancy in her sensitive portrayal of the story as it unfolded.

This stunning song was immediately followed by a quartet performance of another new song in ‘Then And Now’ that again showed Georgia’s versatility as a vocalist with her pure voice and perfect diction that would emphasise the profound or tender meaning inherent in her lyrics.

Never afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, Georgia dedicated the next piece, ‘From Me To You’ to her father-in-law and lifelong jazz fan in a lively samba that produced a flowing piano solo from Alan. This was followed by a song from their first album Songbook, ‘The Journey Home’. Having become so familiar with the song from endless playing of the album, it was a real joy to hear the piece performed live with Georgia’s phrasing very different from the recorded version which re-iterated the fact that these are songs to sung and continue to grow in doing so.

With another duet in the beautiful and emotional ‘All My Love’ (from Quiet is the Star, and one of my favourite songs) that Georgia dedicates to her older sister and their close and special relationship, and then from the first album ‘Just Like A Child’, that was powered along by Andrew Cleyndert and Dave Ohm’s brushwork, Georgia negotiating the fast flowing lyrics with poise and precision and much feeling we were at the end of the first set.

After a brief interval the quartet were back for the second set and another favourite ‘Small Wonder’ kicked off proceedings with excellent solos from both Alan and bassist, Cleyndert. This was followed by four songs back to back from A Story left Untold, that was divided into the political in ‘Same Old Moon’ and the title track and the emotional and tender in ‘Still We All Can Dream’ and ‘Heart of Hearts’.

‘Same Old Moon’ was written in 2016 and reveals the frustrations of fears of Trump’s first presidency and Brexit, and the tumultuous lyrics speak even more truth in light of today’s political climate. Taken at a fast tempo the fury, frustration and fear are captured perfectly by Georgia whose voice brings strength and passion to her lyrics while Dave Ohm’s magnificent drum solo only adds to the tension already built up. ‘Still We All Can Dream’ gives a far more optimistic viewpoint while the beautiful ‘Heart of Hearts’ is another wonderful duet feature.

The climax to this segment of the concert was the live premiere of ‘A Story Left Untold’ which Georgia had told me a few days earlier would be performed as an arrangement for voice and piano, but as it turns out had been prepared by Alan for the quartet. With intense and deeply passionate music in which Georgia says “I heard a depth that mirrored our times; that seemed to hold the stories and secrets not just of a single protagonist, but of a Nation. I pictured a charred, scarred landscape, keeping score of its shameful history, and though my narrative will certainly invite multiple interpretations, for me it is a timely cautionary tale against authoritarianism.” This pared down arrangement from the original score for 42-piece orchestra that is heard on the album, the breadth of the music and depth of feeling in its message came across loud and clear.

Lightening the mood was ‘One For Bud’ another up tempo number that with Georgia negotiating the tricky bebop inspired melody and lyrics with great skill in a number that produced fine solos from the pianist as well as Andrew Cleyndert on and drummer Dave Ohm.

It was these moments that reminded us just how dynamic a music jazz is, and if the albums recorded by Georgia and Alan are often beautifully crafted and delicate moments, then there is also a power to be found in live performance bringing revealing a new element to the music. Cleyndert serves the music well, he plays with a warm tone on the bass and is rock solid in his choice of notes and just where to place them. In this live context, drummer Dave Ohm is a powerhouse. I have never heard anyone use brushes the way he does, and how he can drive the band with an innate musicality that lifts the performance.

As we drew closer to the end of the concert, we were treated to another premiere in song number 42 from the pens of Broadbent and Mancio, for which Georgia had finished writing the lyrics just two days previously, in a duet titled ‘The Words That I Gather’. A superb song that I for one hope is destined for album number four.

Called back to the stage for an encore the quartet played ‘When The Time Has Come To Part’ (also from the new album) that featured a stunning bass solo from Andrew Cleyndert whose playing was exemplary throughout.

It is rare to find a songwriting partnership that not just constantly produces compositions that do not just simply continue the tradition of the Great American Songbook but rather extend and enhance it and then to find the musicians who can breathe life into the songs. It is rarer still to find a pianist/composer and vocalist/lyricist that write and then perform such perfectly sculptured music. And that is exactly what Alan and Georgia have done throughout their dozen years of collaborating, setting new standards of excellence that may never be equalled let alone surpassed.

As I left the venue for the journey home, I felt privileged to have been able to have been in attendance, and to have head the songs of Alan Broadbent and Georgia Mancio come to life in the wonderful setting of Seven Arts, and leaving thinking that I had witnessed something rather special.