REVIEW: Isaac Waddington at Servant Jazz Quarters

By ljazzn on 22 September 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

Isaac Waddington
iPhone photo by Kate Delamere

Isaac Waddington
(Servant Jazz Quarters, Dalston. 12 September 2018. Review by Kate Delamere)

Isaac Waddington, former head chorister at Chichester Cathedral, hit the headlines for having the voice of an angel when he appeared as a 15-year old contestant on Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. He came 5th and was signed by Simon Cowell’s Syco label. Four years on, he continues to make waves in the music business.

He showcased his expansive singer song-writing talent at London’s Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston on 12 September in the wake of the launch of his EP Borselli. Blasting out sophisticated jazz numbers in a 10-track set list, from the slow seductive To the Moon to the African beat of Mornings in Africa, with tender soulful lyrics tripping from his tongue in Fly With You, Wanted you Today and Insane.

The small venue had people standing in every available space including on staircases craning their necks to see this boy wonder. And it was easy to understand why.

Isaac’s enigmatic versatile voice straddles musical genres from jazz to pop. He confidently worked the crowd, slowing and speeding up the tempo of the audience at the hint of a change of key.

But despite a commanding presence, he never strode out too far into the spotlight on his own. He was flanked by the protection of his band; made up of an enthusiastic and playful Joe Beard on keyboard, carefree Casper Miles on bass and Matt Mason on drums who indulged in heated, galloping patterns rousing the audience. Together they played a blinder, creating an atmosphere of youth and hope that suggested an open road of positive possibilities ahead. A sense of optimism in the upbeat rhythms was communicated to the crowd by these young competent musicians who were accomplished and tight. When Isaac played Doing Wrong, it became patently obvious that this boy could never do any wrong in the audience’s eyes, despite some cheeky and witty musical flourishes that flung them out only to reel them back in moments later.

No doubt Isaac’s boyish good looks and whimsical charm will add to his appeal – and lead to a few broken hearts. His is a precocious talent. We’ll be hearing much more of him for years to come.