GABRIELLE Ducomble last played at Calstock Arts three years ago — her return on Saturday, April 9 is long overdue.

Anyone who saw her then will remember her sophisticated Gallic charm and gorgeous voice and will want to see her again.

Singing in English and French, Gabrielle performs iconic songs by Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Legrand, Jacques Brel and Astor Piazzola as well as her own original compositions.

Her voice was described as ‘astonishingly beautiful’ when she performed on Radio 4’s Loose Ends. Her backing musicians are Nicolas Meier on guitar, Maurizio Minardi on accordion and bassist Nick Kacal.

Gabrielle Ducomble has performed at some of the country’s top venues — from intimate clubs to concert halls — and with small groups to orchestras. She sang with the Aurora Orchestra at The Royal Festival Hall as well as at Ronnie Scott’s, The Albert Hall and Pizza Express. In 2015 she premiered her show based on the music of Michel Legrand at the London Jazz Festival to very warm reception.

Her last album Noted From Paris (which included such standards as La Vie En Rose, Ne Me Quitte Pas and Un Homme et Une Femme) received the accolade of ‘charismatic, sophisticated and charming performer leaving audiences spellbound in her wake’ from Jazz FM.

Her voice was described rather eloquently by the London Jazz News as ‘exquisitely groomed, sumptuously powerful and buttery like a fine Mersault’.