Translation:

Badische Zeitung, Freiburg 25/11/2000

THIS WARM VOICE:

Songwriter Jan Allain in Jazzhaus Freiburg.

Freiburg is a special place for Jan Allain. This is where, ten years ago, the English Songwriter started her very first Germany Tour.Ever since she has returned each year and has now established a very dear, mostly female, audience. When she jumped onto the stage in the Freiburg Jazzhaus it was like a gathering of old freinds. "Oh Freiburg" Jan Allain thanked the audience, and again when they joined her on appropriate sections of her songs. The singer with the tomboyish appeal loves her audience and they love her... instantly you know why. There is hardly any other singer with a similar likeable and natural charisma. Of course every gesture, every punchline was perfectly placed, but it was all with an overall handmade charm. Now she wants to quit the 'underground'. Her music was handmade too. Jan Allain played acoustic guitar and harmonica and of course sang with this warm voice, reminiscent of Carly Simon. Occasionally Petra Rick joined her on E-Bass but this was basically unessesary. On the contrary to this, Jan's new musical companion, Clare Lindley on violin, was the perfect accompanyment to Jan Allain's springy feel-good sound. Many in the audience were still grieving for cellist Ilse de Ziah, who played with Jan Allain as a duo for many years. Soon there will be even more changes. Jan would like to address wider audiences now after touring 'underground' as she put it, for ten years. She has already found a record company and tour promoter to back her. On her new journey she does not want to lose old audiences. Still, this concert may have been the last one of the old style? Jan denies this. The London singer filled this concert with old hits and songs matched from her new album 'A Kind of Glory'. She highlighted her gig with her feminist classic..'Kick off your high heeled shoes, put your Big Boots on!'. Boots instead of stilettos, this just makes a woman's life easier.

author: Christian Rath.