★★★★★ Fischer and Grand Baton is an all too rare example of true artistic collaboration.

Dunstan Playhouse
June 18, 2016

Although she won two Grammys in the late ’80s, R&B singer Lisa Fischer had chosen to devote herself to supporting some big names – The Rolling Stones, Sting, Dolly Parton and Chris Botti – to name just a few. It was with the advent of the Oscar-winning documentary on the great singers of her ilk – 20 Feet from Stardom – that she decided to move centre stage. There is little doubt that vocally this gently smiling woman is a force of nature gifted with a four octave range and an equally wide dynamic one. The Ms. Fischer heard at the Playhouse was so much more intimate than the full-throttled Gospel belter encountered live with the Stones.

This was an all too rare example of true artistic collaboration. With her band here was a truly intimate concert where all had much to give with all being granted room to stretch out and shine. Using two microphones to create a myriad of vocal effects and loops, they presented a truly musical multi-headed hybrid which not only touched...