On a bitter, Friday evening in Camden people are slowly thawing out in the Jazz Café to a soundtrack of Raphael Saadiq, Angie Stone, D'Angelo and Jill Scott.
Tracy and Mercedes, the two singers behind Jazzyfatnastees, take to the stage and, with a "Whassup London, How do you feel?", they seize control.
Suddenly the Jazz Café has not only warmed-up, it is no longer a safe place to stand.
The low swinging 'Give A Dog A Bone', is a treat as Tracy and Mercedes' bodies move in perfect sync, whilst their harmonies burn like torches, igniting and inspiring their three piece backing band to do the same.
This is everything a live performances should be.
Up-tempo tracks are turbocharged with a fresh, live dynamic and every climax makes the hairs on the back of your neck bristle in anticipation of the next track.
Halfway into 'The Lie' and the crowd is jumping, palms raised and pumping.
And whilst a dedication for "peace to all my sisters" may leave any misogynists in the house cold, it has dotmusic warming to their 'all about the ladies' vibe. Tonight they welcome the faithful and the rest of us - male and female - equally into their family fold. That one loyal fan has crossed the Atlantic just for the gig speaks volumes about their following.
Amazingly each JFN regular receives a personal shout. A warm welcome to a person-to-person world of music.
'The Wound' (a track lifted from their debut album 'The Once and The Future') is a pure, aural joy as by this time the Jazzyfatnastees are right inside the groove and showing no signs of slowing down or letting up.
'All Up In My Face' (the single from their current album 'The Tortoise And The Hare') puts the hip rock-hop pedal to the metal and keeps it firmly floored throughout the next forceful rendition of 'Compelled.'
The band collectively reels in the slack on 'Tumbling' and Adam Blackstone's saucy bass finger work, Ben Kenney's (The Roots) eccentric, electric guitar and Aaron Draper's sexy rhythms buff this whole performance to a high sheen.
And as the whole room moves as one an over-tall man next to me leans down to ask: " ...are you reviewing this? They're f***ing wicked!" Even if he was five foot shorter, no one's going to argue with that.
