Clare Teal: Why I missed my chance to sing like Bing

Poor Mud got full flu and has been bedridden and out of action for a fortnight. I opted for the lighter option of a nasty head and chest cold, requiring less bed rest but more tissues.

It of course coincided with one of our busiest months, a rook of gigs punctuated only by radio shows and the super efficient recording schedule I’d spent hours putting together – well out of window that went.

I can reschedule recording time but I can’t move physical engagements that have been booked 18 months in advance, it’s just a case of giving the best possible performance you can with whatever voice you still have.

Guttingly one of these concerts happened to be a Friday Night Is Music Night with the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrating the music of Bing Crosby. The fabulous Michael Feinstein was the star of the show, with Strictly Come Dancing’s Lance Ellington and myself on assisting warbling duties. By the time I got to rehearsal on the Thursday I swear I could have given Bing a run for his money hitting a low G. There’s nothing more terrifying to singers than being trapped in a confined space with someone with a cold therefore my germs and I sat spluttering quietly in a corner, trying to contain ourselves.

Thankfully I didn’t have much to sing so was able to sit back and watch Michael and Lance do their stuff. Bing Crosby was of course one of the greatest singers to ever walk the planet, selling over a billion records. His repertoire includes a large proportion of the Great American Songbook and I can’t think of a better authority on that than multi platinum selling, five time grammy nominated singer pianist Michael Feinstein. Michael told Bing’s story beautifully and the show was packed with as many of his hits as was humanly possible including a final medley of epic proportions all conducted by the masterful Larry Blank. From there I headed west to The Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival to “sing” with Joe Stilgoe accompanied by the Big Buzzard Boogie Band and 150 strong Festival chorus this time to pay tribute to Frank Sinatra.

Although still attached to a honey, lemon and ginger drip I had a great time.