With Hollywood legend Jane Russell providing the pre-dinner entertainment and The Temptations and Ben E King popping up to finish the evening in fine fashion, it was quite a night at Liverpool Cathedral last week.
I’ve been remiss – although I’ve got a good excuse as I only got back from Hamburg last night (more of that later) – in recouting the incredible evening organised by cathedral supporter Margaret Harry and by David Gest on Thursday evening.

I’ve heard plenty of performances in the cathedral, but I’ve never heard people like Deniece Williams, Kim Weston and Dorothy Moore opening up their vocal chords and filling the “great space” with the most amazing gospel.

Then there was William Bell (whose piano player accompanist was apparently from Massive Attack) who performed a unique version of the Beatles’ Yesterday, followed by Freda Payne (who with Deniece Williams had been at the Everyman to see The Caretaker the other week) who went back to her first love of jazz and big bands to bring us a cracking version of Ella Fitzgerald’s first hit Mr Paganini. [...]