LIKE the inside of a giant wedding cake, the stunning Royal Hall was the only UK venue chosen by Ee Pee to celebrate her love of jazz. Chicago’s All That Jazz was the opener, re-jigged as a light, syncopated swinger rather than the original show’s heavy strutting beat.

Comes Love (1939), from the classic jazz catalogue, was followed by the theme from Tootsie, by popster Stephen Bishop. This threesome set the scene for the show-jazz songs, American standards and eclectic popular song selections.

Jazz is defined by performance rather than provenance. Louis Armstrong played Cabaret and Miles Davis chose Michael Jackson’s Human Nature, so who can fault Ee Pee including the old Vera Lynn hit If You Love Me or Barry Manilow’s Meet Me At Midnight?

The 1960s pop song One Fine Day has been covered by jazz singer Liane Carroll, and Elaine’s version was similarly touching and reflective.

The backing band were confident jazzers, guitarist Andy James and saxophonist/flautist Martin Williams injecting warmth and sparkle, pianist/MD Chris Egan endlessly creative in support. Miss Paige chose some classic jazz songs – St Louis Blues, Blue Skies, Cry Me A River and delivered them in intimate style. As Time Goes By and Piaf’s Je Ne Regrette Rien were more epic Broadway than subtle Harlem, but who was quibbling?

Masterfully spellbinding, they brought the house down, as did celebrity anecdotes involving Royalty, but then Ee Pee is the First Lady of British musical theatre, our next best thing to Royalty.

Bravo Royal Hall for a real showbiz coup.