Ni Maxine’s ‘Ode to Billie Holiday’ live in London review

The award-winning neo-jazz artist Ni Maxine from Liverpool performed in London this month with a live show, ‘Ode To Billie Holiday’, at Pizza Express Holborn on Friday 26 April 2024, all part of series of live shows through the UK.

Ni Maxine. Photo by Kieran Irvine.

The show featured reimagining’s of Billie Holiday songs alongside Ni Maxine’s originals, intertwining the stories of two Black women, existing almost a century apart, acknowledging the parallels while celebrating progress.   

Ni Maxine seems to be an artist who doesn’t want to just sing a pretty song, her evening’s setlist reflected her commitment to tackling meaningful themes. “For all the women who have been abused, acknowledging sex workers and wanting to honour these women” - The first half featured ‘Love for Sale’ a song about prostitution which has come to be a staple jazz song (as an aside Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett did a wonderful duet of this song for their second album collaboration in 2021). The first set concluded with a powerful rendition of ‘Strange Fruit’ which was originally recorded in 1939. The song protests the lynching of Black Americans with lyrics that compare the victims to the fruit of trees. The song somewhat formed part of the beginning of the Civil rights movement.

Ni Maxine. Photo by Kieran Irvine.

Ni Maxine vocals are timeless, and her soulful delivery and emotive restraint created an intimate atmosphere in the cosy Holborn basement venue. She has rightly earned comparisons to jazz legends such as Sade, and Erykah Badu and is the recipient of a Youth Music Award for original track award (solo), and a Drake YolanDa Award.

Ni Maxine’s original songs delve into her experiences exploring themes of self-esteem, identity and home. Her award-winning debut single ‘Strange Love’ inspired by ‘I May Destroy You’ (Michaela Coel), centers on the universal journey towards self-love, steering away from validation-seeking as love is ’right beneath your nose’. The evening also included her latest single  'God Bless The Child' and a preview of her upcoming EP.

The band supporting her were equally impressive, with each member having a chance to shine in short solo performances. Guitarist Jack Lewis has been a consistent support on her musical journey and provided solid backing throughout the night. The pianist Luke Bacchus’ delivered a standout performance. Despite some of the musicians only filling in for this specific show they played seamlessly as if they had performed together many times before.

Ni Maxine. Photo by Kieran Irvine.

It had been a long while since going to Pizza Express. While the menu is not particularly noteworthy their live venue’s commitment to music makes it worth keeping an eye on for future nights out. The audience was diverse, united over the love of Jazz. The evening was a relaxed way to enjoy quality music in a welcoming setting. Definitely keep an eye on this venue for future shows, as it’s a great spot to discover new talent and enjoy live performances.

Words by Natascha Milsom