Amber Sings Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song in Liverpool, 12 September 2025

Tribute bands are very much part of the modern zeitgeist. With music industry gatekeepers keeping grass roots talent at bay, whilst simultaneously growing rich off back-catalogs or bland pop written by or for rich kids, it’s no surprise that those with a passion for music and performance turn to tribute acts. It provides them with an artistic outlet, pays homage to their heroes and is an opportunity to at least make some money. It was against this backdrop that I went to see Amber Kuti Smith perform a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect, perhaps a passable impersonation of one of the great ladies of jazz or maybe something else. After all these are big shoes to fill. Ella Fitzgerald wasn’t just popular with the public, she was recognised by some of the finest singers of her era. Her plaudits included Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis and Andy Williams. But it is possibly Frank Sinatra that put it most succinctly: 

“The best way to start any musical evening is with this girl. It don’t get better than this.”

With such accolades you’d have to be brave, mad, or both to attempt such an undertaking. 

What I got was no mere tribute band, it wasn’t a pale impersonation, it went beyond these. Instead, and in keeping with the best jazz traditions, I was treated to a passionate interpretation of Ella’s music by a group of musicians that clearly loved and admired Ella. Under the skilful direction of Alex McDowall our evening opened with  ‘Just One of Those Things’ with the ensemble going on to perform two sublime sets of tunes from the Great American Songbook. Amber and her band mates had clearly studied Ella’s styles and she captured the subtle intonations that characterised Ella’s voice. It even went as far as adding a certain rawness and Southern lilt to her rendition of ‘A-Tisket, A-Tasket” (Ella’s breakthrough song of 1938) 

For songs that featured later in Ella’s career Amber similarly tracked how Ella’s voice evolved. 

For me a standout performance was ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ immediately before the break. A performance so mesmerising that the audience fell silent and I would swear they were all holding their breath in fear that the merest gasp would somehow sully it. 

Returning to us Amber had left behind her elegant green satin dress in favour of a sparkling silver one. A look that confirmed the effortlessly cool air the whole band exuded. The sort of cool one attributes to bands seen in mythical jazz clubs frequented by 1950s rat-pack types. 

Of course no tribute to Ella’s timeless legacy would be complete without some of her trademark ‘scat’. A style tried by many, but mastered by few. Amber pulled it off with aplomb in her rendition of ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing’.

It would be easy to focus on Amber’s beautiful vocals, but this would be a disservice to her fellow musicians. Amber Sings Ella are a six piece band comprised of Amber Kuti Smith on vocals; Alex McDowall – MD, guitar; Max O’Hara – keyboard & vocals; Martin Smith – trumpet & flugelhorn; Pablo Sonnaillon – double bass; and Tilo Pirnbaum – drums. Each brought their own skills and passion. 

In summary, a fine evening of musical majesty featuring some of the finest talent from Liverpool’s vibrant jazz scene. I’ve come to expect nothing less from ParrJazz. 

ParrJazz returns with ‘MERSEY WYLIE , ‘WOMAN’ EP LAUNCH’ on 25th October at Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room

Review and Photo Credits: Gary Dougherty

Cover Photo: Paul Baines