Noted singer returns to Bangkok after eight-year absence
Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs

 “ …… Salena Jones, who held spellbound the audience in the main auditorium of the Thailand Cultural Centre last Tuesday with powerful vocals that crossed an ocean of time - four decades of it. 

On this occasion, she delivered about 20 numbers, a right mix of hit ballads and songs from her latest album, Those Eyes, released in 2001. 

Among her fans were renowned Thai singers Natda Wiyakan, Chantana Kittiyapan, Setha Sirachaya and Vinai Pundhurat. They looked eager to meet their favourite singer and listen to her perform. 

Ms Jones did not disappoint them, nor the youngsters who have learned about her music from classic music programmes on the radio. 

Now 58, she was in fine form, hitting all the right notes with powerful vocals, and charming the audience with her friendliness. 

The band, consisting of two Westerners and three home-grown musicians, hit it off with an instrumental version of Have You Met Miss Jones?, followed by Ms Jones' own version of Hello. 

Emerging in a glittering golden gown, she didn't wait for the screams to end before continuing the show with her jazzy, sentimental Autumn Leaves, earning more cheers from an audience clearly fond of pop classics. 

A medley featured her classics - But Beautiful, Everything I Have Is Yours, and all the rest. But it was in The Touch of Your Lips that she showed off her skills as a jazz singer with powerhouse lungs and flirtatious vocals.

 Ms Jones moved on to a latin feel with Antonio's Song and Dindi, two numbers she dedicated to her long-time friend and musician, the late Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Percussion filled the auditorium and she belted out some fast songs - Agua de Beber with a bit of scat, followed by a rousing version of Gershwin's Summertime. 

The vocalist then returned to slower rhythms with Stevie Wonder's Superwoman and It Don't Mean A Thing, before taking a short break.

 After a 15-minute interval, she returned to the stage in a sparkling black gown to croon Lover and Night & Day. But it was My Funny Valentine that charmed the audience most with its sad, sentimental vocalisation. 

The audience applauded before she offered the bossa nova version of Norwegian Wood. 

The highlight of the night was My Love which she began by humming sadly, offering us all a most emotional version of the song. Her improvisational ending - dragging out the melody and spicing up the lyrics - was impressive. 

She looked very happy to perform - she was a natural on the stage. 

As a nod to the younger members of the audience, she offered her ballad interpretation of I Don't Want To Miss A Thing from the Hollywood blockbuster Armageddon. 

She ended the night then with Every Breath You Take in a percussive, pop style. 

But - surprise, surprise - she didn't go immediately backstage as we expected.

The audience responded with delight. 

She then proceeded to treat us to her versions of Ipanema, I Want to Know About You and Soul Shadows. 

It was great to have her back.”