Mixing jazz, soul, funk and the blues, this 2CD live album recorded at Onkel Pö’s Carnegie Hall in Hamburg bursts into life with a barnstorming version of ‘I’ve Never Found A Man (To Love Me Like You Do)’, which Phillips had previously recorded on her 1972 album Alone Again, Naturally. Pianist Henry Cain’s funky vamp lights up ‘The Man Ain’t Ready’, the first of four songs taken from All About Esther Phillips, the others being ‘Native New Yorker’ (the 1977 Odyssey hit), ‘Stormy Weather’ and the anthem for independent women, ‘Ms’. “Do we have any blues lovers in here? Do we have anybody in here with the blues? ”, Phillips enquires, before launching into the epic, self-penned ‘The Blues’, featuring solos by Cain and Blackman. Recorded on her 1976 album Confessin’ The Blues and penned by Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson, ‘Cherry Red’ is a crowd-pleasing standout on CD2. With her impassioned delivery and soul-baring pipes, it brings into focus Phillips’s ability to detonate a huge emotional charge. It’s no surprise to see both ‘One Night Affair’ and the hit title-track from her Creed Taylor-produced 1975 album WhatA Diff’rence A Day Makes on the tracklist. A song associated with one of Phillips’ main touchstones Dinah Washington, the dancefloor friendly reworking of ‘What A Diff’rence’ brings proceedings to a rousing conclusion in an extended 12-minute workout.