Jazz Preview: Lea will play this one straight – well mostly

But it is in the American’s role as a jazz singer that she makes her Wakefield Jazz debut tonight.

“I started as a stand-up comic who sang, but now I’m a singer who’s funny,” she says. “When I go out on stage I’m funny even if I’m there to sing – it’s part of what I do. The old school of show business was like that.”

Lea has just ended a two-month run of Prometheus Bound at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston. Earlier in the year she contributed to the American Song Book series at New York’s Lincoln Centre.

Tonight she will be underlining her jazz credentials accompanied by a trio led by the excellent and often underrated Janette Mason on piano. With a few acerbic witticisms to help the show along, the evening should strengthen the reputation of a formidable talent.

Ruby Turner, at Hull Truck Theatre on Sunday, has no claims to being an actress or comedian, but she is undeniably a queen of rhythm and blues in the majestic mould of Aretha Franklin. Born in Jamaica, she has performed with bands including The Four Tops and The Temptations and has also had solo success, with her song It’s Gonna Be Alright going to number one in America.

Regular appearances with Jools Holland have earned a national following for her exuberant singing and the soulful diva can be relied on to blow up a vocal storm.

Wakefield Jazz, 01977 680542. Hull Truck Theatre 01482 323638.