Back to Black – The Music of Amy Winehouse was an interactive and impressive experience, watching Reine Beau sing, entertain and reflect on the stunning talent and life of the late, great Amy Winehouse. Reine and her tight and smooth jazz ensemble had the audience attention from the first song, Me and Mr Jones.

After taking us through the opening songs, including the iconic, Stronger Than Me, Reine created a moving journey, interweaving highlights about Amy’s wonderfully electric life and unique talents as a natural lyricist and jazz/RnB vocalist. At the age of ten we were told Amy joined a jazz school and began listening to famous artists as inspiration for her songs, like Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. At nineteen, Winehouse wrote her first album, Frank and evolved her music further by beginning to listen to popular 1960’s girl bands, leading to her inspiration and writing of Back to Black; with the help of prolific producer Mark Ronson. Reine’s performing of this legendary song was engaging and catchy, as well as her version of Rehab.

This jazz and neo-soul cabaret show threw us into the world of Amy Winehouse. Reine’s incredible raspy voice and natural growls channelled the Amy vibe perfectly, especially when singing the popular You Know I’m No Good. Her soft emotional vocals for the emotional Love Is a Losing Game, was intense. Just before this performance red lights turned cool blue, the band walked off stage and the audience watched a montage of Amy with a beautiful narration from Tony Bennett musing on life’s fleetingness. You could hear a pin drop as many audience members wiped away tears during this part of the show. This universally relatable song matched with the middle of the show’s melancholic vibe, leading into the whimsical Body and Soul. Harry the pianist and Reine took to the stage in this romantic rendition, sweeping us off our feet.

In thick, hot pink heels with messy gorgeous curls, Reine prowled around the stage, charismatically engaging with the grooving audience and affectionately hyping up her seamless jazz band. The drums, saxophone, piano, bass and lead guitar worked perfectly in one very memorable, soulful and heartfelt performance. If you get a chance in the last days of the Adelaide Fringe or even if this UK production of Night Owl Shows graces us with the Back to Black performance next year, please go along and keep Amy’s music alive.