And then there's Stilgoe. With a reverential impertinence that reminds one of Peter Shaffer's young Amadeus, eschewing sheet music and much like a Transformer straight out of the recent movie franchise, he becomes one with his piano. Stilgoe really is that good. The pair's set list, loosely themed around Springtime takes in the Great Songbooks from both sides of the pond and a segue that seamlessly joins Gershwin's S'Wonderful, to Sam Cooke's Wonderful World and which in less confident hands would appear cheesy, here just seems so natural. Not just a pianist, the young musician's guitar playing is divine too and he also delivers a neat mimic of a muted trumpet. But it was only when sat at his piano that Stilgoe junior whistled at me, that I truly realised how proud of son Joe, dad Richard should truly be.
For an evening packed with gems, the rest is detail. The pair (whose harmonies were always perfectly aligned) gave a cracking treatment to Sinatra's That's Life and also enchanted in Legrand's Watch What Happens. Martin soloed sublimely with April In Paris, whilst her treatment of the Garland classic Get Happy! referenced the Hollywood star in style, yet bore a fresh interpretation that was nothing short of sensational.
No matter their patter occasionally drifted. On this night the singing was all that counted and rarely are two performers so marvellously melded. They're only here for a week, don't miss 'em!