The Grammy award-winning vocalist Rita Coolidge received a warm welcome back to the Fairfield recently and gave an object lesson in how to cross-over a variety of musical styles and make each one her own.

Promoting her new album And So Is Love, Rita is on something of a jazz kick at the moment, backed by an impressive quartet of piano, guitar, bass and drums.

Yet old habits die hard, and while she effortlessly handles jazz standards such as Sentimental Journey and Fever, it is only when she attacks the rhythm and blues of Born Under A Bad Sign that the real soul in Rita's voice shines through.

Chatting easily with the audience, she recalled her previous visits to the Fairfield with Delaney & Bonnie and also one with Kris Kristofferson, or as she joked, "my favourite ex-husband", who provided her with one of the best songs of the evening, the country-rock Late Again (Getting Over You).

Rita is justly proud of her American Indian heritage and the version of Amazing Grace sung in her native Cherokee proved to be an emotional highlight, while the combination of The Way You Do The Things You Do and How Sweet It Is wound up the tempo, showcasing each of the band members in turn, including sparkling contributions from pianist Mary Eckler and guitarist John McDuffy.

Closing the show with Superstar, a song originally written in praise of Eric Clapton, Rita Coolidge remains an engaging performer with a supremely expressive voice, whose long and successful career is a fine example of how to avoid the pigeon-holes and pitfalls of the music business and win.