
Jeremy Williams-Chalmers, Arts Correspondent
Albums: Jack Garratt Pizza Express Live In London
Jack Garratt Pizza Express Live In London
Better; Breathe Life; Weathered; Old Enough; Water; Mara; Surprise Yourself; She Will Lay My Body On The Stone; Time; Worry; The Love You’ve Given
Label: PX Records
At the age of 14, Jack Garratt entered Junior Eurovision. Belgium hosted the contest in 2005. Jack’s song,
The Girl, proved somewhat unpopular. Finishing in last place with just 13 points, this moment was a valuable one for the budding musician.
While his passion was in performance, he won the contest for fame and fortune. This moment changed course for the young man, who wanted to still pursue a career in music, but on his own terms as opposed to simply achieving his fifteen minutes of fame.
However, those fifteen minutes would arrive some 11 years later. Having just released his debut album, Phase, he was recognised at the Brit Awards for the Critics’ Choice Award. Charting at #3 in the UK album charts, the indie meets R’n’B affair was slick and showcased an artist with huge potential, even if the album itself didn’t quite fulfil the promise.
Waiting four years to release a follow-up, 2020’s
Love, Death, & Dancing, allowed Garratt to perfect his abilities by writing for an array of other artists. It was a far more accomplished collection, representing the work of an artist who had finally arrived.
However, it was the praise for his vocals that clearly hit home, with Garratt seeming to prefer live recordings to studio efforts in recent times. With his two previous albums being live recordings, it has been three years since Garratt released a full album, At Pizza Express Live in London.
There is no denying Garratt’s vocals have developed over the last few years, and the live audience’s excitement certainly adds to the recording. While
Old Enough and
Mara are strong cuts, the collection does leave you craving a full studio album of new material.