Australian Arts Review

Thank you to Bill Stephens OAM for a wonderful review of our recent show at The Street Theatre, Canberra. An excerpt below, published in The Australian Arts Review this month.

A consummate musician, gifted composer and arranger, with a sweet voice and relaxed, engaging presence that exudes the joy of singing, Madden and her band performed an engaging program, of songs featured on her new album, new songs not yet recorded sprinkled with exciting arrangements of familiar standards.

The standards included an upbeat arrangement of Marvin Gaye’s Dancing in the Street to open the show; a lush arrangement of Oscar Peterson’s Give Me The Simple Life, which provided Madden with the opportunity to show off her formidable jazz piano technique; a joyous romp through Gershwin’s S’Wonderful; and a gorgeously performed arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s ubiquitous Hallelujah.

However it was Madden’s virtuosity as a composer and song stylist that were the most impressive aspects of this concert. Surrounding herself with musicians of the ilk of guitarist Carl Dewhurst, trumpeter Ray Cassar, Brett Hirst on double bass and Tim Geldens on drums, with Borbala Bodonyi and Jo Fabro providing exquisite backing vocals, Madden, seated at piano and keyboards, followed the rousing opening with a gentle new song, not yet recorded, entitled Bless the Day . . .

Bill Stephens, Australian Arts Review March 2022

Read the full article here.

We hope you’ll join us for our last show of the tour this Friday 25th March at Foundry 616.

Frances xx