Heather Cairncross made a tremendous impression when I first saw her one woman jazz musical at the Brighton Festival a couple of years ago.

She is one of the few singers who successfully makes the crossover from the world of classical music, where she has a high reputation, to jazz.

Renowned jazz pianist and composer David Newton was encouraged by Cairncross to add words to her Portrait Of A Woman song cycle after hearing it in its orchestral form.

The result was a pleasing mixture of songs with jazz trio accompaniment augmented with the classical talent of the Arundel Ensemble.

The songs were about relationships, mainly expressed through female eyes with occasionally a man’s perspective. Styles ranged from haunting ballads, laments, lyrical outpourings to those with a breezy jauntiness.

Newton’s skilful piano accompaniment often brought to mind the sound of a sophisticated nightclub, and every song was exquisitely delivered.

Words Alone Can Never Say allowed Cairncross to release the soaring power of her voice. Particularly captivating was Grace, a sweet song expressing the nervousness and exhilaration of new-found love. The excitement of the swinging blues of Hot Stuff, Latin tempo of For The First Time and the encore number, Both Sides Now, made one wish for more of the same.