There’s something rather special about witnessing an artist reclaim their voice after a health crisis. When that voice belongs to David Raleigh, a musician of considerable accomplishment, and the setting is the intimate environs of Crazy Coqs, the effect is nothing short of transformative.
Raleigh’s evening represents an adventurous re-imagining of the classic American songbook, performed in a way that strips away any notion of dusty tradition. The core tension of the show, and indeed its great appeal, lies in the collision between Raleigh’s artistic vision and the material itself. His vocal phrasing carries unmistakable echoes of Stevie Wonder, that contemporary R&B sensibility that transforms standards into something altogether more modern. It’s a bold choice, and for the most part, it works beautifully, breathing new life into songs we thought we knew.
Yet this is precisely where things become complicated. The musical accompaniment remains rooted firmly in the traditional jazz register, honouring the classical lineage of these compositions. The result is a fascinating creative tension: Raleigh’s voice pulls these songs forward into a contemporary register whilst the arrangements anchor them in their historical moment. Sometimes this friction feels entirely intentional and artfully managed, a deliberate dialogue between past and present. At other moments, the disconnect becomes just slightly uncomfortable, as if the two impulses haven’t quite found their complete synchronicity.
Raleigh’s performance itself is accomplished and deeply engaging. There’s a palpable warmth to his delivery, an ease with the material that speaks to years of serious musicianship. What perhaps holds him back from absolute transcendence is occasional vocal thinness in certain passages, moments where the voice feels just slightly under the demands being placed upon it.
The evening is enriched considerably by the appearance of David Bedella, Raleigh’s close friend and accomplished actor, who brings a refreshing counterpoint to the proceedings. Their duet on My Foolish Heart showcases both artists in fascinating relief: Bedella’s slightly baritone range and more traditionally grounded interpretation of the material works beautifully against Raleigh’s contemporary sensibility. It’s in these moments, when the two vocal approaches are heard side by side, that the creative tension of the evening becomes most artfully resolved. Bedella’s subsequent solo performance of Life on Mars further demonstrates his gift for honouring the emotional core of a song whilst bringing his own musicianship to bear, and the contrast between the two artists proves to be one of the evening’s genuine highlights.
The evening moves with assured pacing, neither hurrying through the material nor lingering overlong. Raleigh seems to understand instinctively when to press forward and when to let a moment breathe, creating a journey through the songbook that feels both carefully constructed and organically alive.
Setting The Standard is a captivating evening of the American songbook, with Raleigh’s contemporary R&B sensibility creating an intriguing (if occasionally uneasy) dialogue with traditional jazz arrangements. Bedella’s guest appearance provides welcome illumination of these contrasting interpretive approaches, making for a rewarding and fascinatingly layered show.
Reviewed on 6 April 2026
