Something has happened to Beverley Knight. She has long been one of the more dependable stars from one of the least reliable genres, namely British R&B. But with the release this year of a compilation album, Voices — The Best of Beverley Knight, the 33-year-old singer from Wolverhampton has dramatically extended her range. Playing on tours with Take That and Bryan Adams and appearing on the BBC TV celebrity duets show Just the Two of Us have brought her to the attention of the mainstream pop and rock audience. Yet far from diluting her musical ambition or compromising her appeal, the experience has plainly given a tremendous boost to her confidence.

Dressed in a simple but sexy ensemble of knee-length black leggings and a cream-coloured top, she came storming down some steps on to the Apollo stage, paused just long enough to snap the audience out of their seats, and then laid into her 1999 hit Made it Back. Shaking her mane of thick, black hair, she sashayed and twirled, emphasizing the swooping notes and defiant lyric with bold, chopping arm gestures. “Never doubted for a second/ That I’d do it on my own,” she sang, and she meant it.The set that followed was a masterclass in the art of modern soul singing. Flava of the Old Skool was a gutsy, funk workout, ditto her emphatic version of Aretha Franklin’s Rock Steady. A new song, Black Butta, recorded in Nashville earlier this year, echoed the shimmy and strut of Ike and Tina Turner’s Nutbush City Limits, while another new song, After All, had something of Al Green’s lazy Southern swing about it.

Her four-man backing group rather struggled to keep up, sounding too quiet and polite to match her incredible flow of energy. She should get hold of Prince’s band for her next outing, or at least tell her current musicians to give it a bit more oomph.

The three backing singers were superb, however, and the “acoustic” section of the show, which included an emotionally charged, stripped-down version of Sista Sista, featured some spine-tingling harmonies. Knight was gracious in sharing the spotlight, and after sweeping through an encore of Come As You Are they took a big group bow. But it was her tremendous singing and authoritative presence — together with the many memorable songs — that carried this thoroughly engaging show.

For tour details, go to: www.beverleyknight.com

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