It possibly couldn't get any better than this: a sell out tour and the release of a potentially huge Greatest Hits collection, up there with Madge and Steps as one of the more essential Best Ofs for this Christmas. This is Gabrielle's second night at Ipswich's fine if a bit knackered-looking Regent Theatre, a place more used to offering up Deep Purple and something called The Circus Of Horrors (I didn't realize the Stereophonics were due) for those who find The Co-Op Juniors too avant-garde, than actually bothering to book someone people under 30 might've heard of. Hence Gabrielle is big news indeed, prompting the locals to park-up their alleged tractors and take in a night of mono-eyed Big Sister soul.
Supported by Damage - who actually deserve to be a bit more massive than their current No.17-on-a-quiet-week status. A genuinely able teen Temptations giving it more than necessary to the hits like 'Ghetto Romance' and 'Still Be Lovin' You', whilst their version of Earth Wind & Fire's classic blubfest 'After The Love Has Gone' goes down a storm.
Arriving onstage in a big leather mac and shades - a bit like your mum dressing up as something from The Matrix - the Gabster arrives on stage to a hero's welcome, and it's not long before the place is jiving in a light-soul way to 'Sunshine'. Hit after hit - 'Give Me A Little More Time', 'When A Woman', 'Should I Stay' - follow, showing that she is no one hit wonder, more the first superstar to manage something approaching a lengthy career in the notoriously fickle UK soul world.
Her list of hits are testament to this, her take on the love song having been coloured by her own harrowing experiences, - man done me really wrong, in no hurry to repeat it, cheers - her own life has led to quietly defiant classics such as 'If You Really Cared' and a showstopping 'Rise'. When things do move up a gear, with the cheery groove of 'Don't Need The Sun To Shine', the pace is still far from larging, and none of her dark rumbles into UK Garage rear their head, which is maybe just as well, as Gabs is at her best doing it smoothly and subtly.
Understandably, the place goes politely bonkers to 'Out Of Reach' - possibly one of the finest love songs ever - and 'Dreams', the hit which kicked it all off back in 1993. Gabrielle could probably sing a till receipt, and have everyone present in raptures. Instead, she opts for a cover of Carole King's 'It's Too Late', that has more than the desired effect on this crowd.
Gabrielle's work here is done, and the message is plain: 'Dreams', it would appear, can come true. With that, she loads up and heads off onto Rock's Lost Highway to spread her message further. Job done.
