Soul music devotees and newcomers alike flocked to The Ellington Jazz Club for Claire Fahie and her stellar 8-piece band's passionate performance celebrating the genre's beloved songbook. Their show, The Very Best of Soul, took the packed crowd on a 1-hour long musical journey through hits originally made famous by legends like Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Carole King and other icons who defined the quintessential soul sound.

Front and centre was Fahie, who dazzled with smooth vocals full of finesse and feeling. She commanded the stage and the band with confidence, leading spirited singalongs to anthems like the rousing Respect, while also excelling on more tender ballads meant to pull at the heartstrings.

Equally impressive was her stellar backing band, who brought polish and passion to the familiar arrangements. The trumpeter, sax player and keyboardist deserve special praise for their solos that ignited songs. Anchoring it all was the unshakable rhythm section - bass, guitar, drums - who laid down the foundation for Claire to shine song after song. Two smooth backing vocalists added lovely harmonies to complete the vintage soul revue vibe. A highlight of the night was when backup vocalist Jordan joined Claire for a duet of Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Even with a misstep with the lyrics, their harmonies on this Motown classic earned some of the loudest cheers of the evening.

For a transportive 60 minutes, Fahie and the band brought the Ellington back to the 1960s and 70s for a party full of heart and soul. The show is a crowd-pleasing night out for longtime soul aficionados eager to revisit the classics or curious newcomers looking to discover why this music has endured for generations.