I do remember that she seemed to be quite reserved on stage but then some artists are like that when they perform live. I remember seeing Maria Rita at last years North Sea Jazz festival and she wasn’t all that talkative but none the less put out a good performance.

Personally I feel that it is possible for a musician to be able to write and play great music but at the same time be nervous when performing it in front of a large audience. Perhaps this is the case for Madeleine? I also don’t really recall her being sulky, I mean at least not in the way you describe, I just had her down as a quiet type of person who felt more comfortable playing than talking.

I can’t comment if the record labels have forced her current style upon her but I do think it suits her. I wouldn’t imagine that anything has been forced upon her though as her debut album (released before anyone even really knew her as an artist) was of the style she is playing now and I wouldn’t have imagined she would have embarked on recording those songs if her heart wasn’t in it.

Thanks for your comments though, its certainly made me think a little more about an artists actions on the stage beside the music. Hopefully some more people will come forward and comment on this one

I arrived a fan and left feeling very concerned. I don’t think she likes her life at all. I don`t think she likes performing. Only on the encore did she liven up - playing French Hot Club/Folk type of stuff which she grew up with perhaps?

Other than that she seemed to be on a depressed ride of record label inisistence that she goes out and does jazz stuff cos her voice co-incidentally sounds like olde worlde jazz singers a la Billie Holiday etc.

She hardly ever spoke to the audience and made me feel uncomfortable for her sulky demeanour the whole way through. I guess it won`t be long before she runs off again…and I did not enjoy watching her suffer.