Skulking on stage in his skinny jeans, white t-shirt, and fulsome beard, David McAlmont cuts an unprepossessing figure.
At one point he seems to hide behind the piano. The lights are set in a soulless white wash.
But he has more music in his little figure than most people experience in a lifetime, and a voice that transcends any diminutive visuals.
Performing from Billie Holiday's Carnegie Hall set list, songs like What A Little Moonlight, Don't Explain, Nobody's Business and Loverman come alive afresh. McAlmont doesn't feel the need to insert gimmicks to reinvent these standards, but still makes them distinctly his own.
His five piece band don't quite match up (though pianist Alex Webb has bursts of flair) but a missed cue aside, that doesn't overly distract from the main event: McAlmont's superlative voice.
He closed his encore with Body & Soul, and his voice was charged throughout the gig with an abundance of both. A great start to this year's festival.
• David McAlmont presents Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall at Norwich Playhouse is part of this year's Norfolk and Norwich Festival. For your daily guide to festival events click here
• For all the latest festival news and reviews click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here