She is Britain's first lady of jazz but if Clare Teal ever feels like a career change, she could be receiving as many accolades as a stand-up comic.

The smooth-voiced winner of three best British jazz singer awards delighted the Bewdley Festival audience with her interpretations of swing era standards, pop classics and her self-penned songs.

And Teal displayed her talents as an all-round entertainer with her witty between song banter, bringing to mind a Yorkshire version of Victoria Wood and filling the room with laughter.

But it was the music that really made this such a memorable evening. Teal and her trio of backing musicians were in sparkling form and playing with real swing as they worked their way through such standards as Night and Day, Begin the Beguine and a lightning-quick Tea for Two.

Away from her swing era comfort zone, Teal gave a rousing rendition of Van Morrison's Moondance and winning versions of Neil Sedaka's Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Boudleaux Bryant's Love Hurts and Paul Anka's My Way.

It says much about her own songwriting and vocal skills that her original numbers did not sound out of place in such company.

BDG