Claire Martin live at the Barbican

Kurt Elling was quick to lead applause for the UK's Claire Martin, who had delivered an assured, fine-tuned first set with her inventive trio. Martin's intriguing choices (Michael Franks' Jive, Funny Girl's The Music That Makes Me Dance and Sting's St Augustine in Hell all rubbed shoulders), and the control with which she switched from a deep purr through an evaporating whisper to coolly loping swing, confirmed how steadily this long-standing local class act continues to grow.