Liane Carroll, Bennigan's Jazz Club, Derry-Londonderry

Buoyant banter and merry musicality – that's what it's all about for Liane Carroll. As the highly regarded London-born, Hastings-raised singer and entertainer arrives in Derry-Londonderry's Bennigan's Bar for her solo set at the city's annual jazz extravaganza, spirits are already high and the ambience is warm.

The bar's lounge, packed to the rafters on this occasion, has repeatedly proven itself as a reliably intimate venue for musicians of all kinds and all ages, and Carroll will be no exception. Both performer and punters are to leave the building with smiles on their faces, and quite possibly springs in their steps, after a consistently entertaining set.

Indeed, entertainers like Liane Carroll can sting you into life in the most unexpected of ways. Hers is a homely, happy soul suitable for fireside and seaside. Seaside is also, quite tellingly, the name of her latest album, a collection of diverse performances befitting of such a bright personality.

Despite teething problems (I'll say no more), Carroll's calming, casual poise and a devil-may-care attitude swiftly guide her through the early wobbly patches in her projection, winning over the audience and building her confidence. Her soulful voice and steady piano playing are primed with passion, with an early incorporation of John Barry and Monty Norman's James Bond theme into It's All Right With Me the clearest sign of things to come.

For Carroll is an entertainer who thrives on eclectic experimentalism alongside heartfelt regard for the finest jazz, blues and soul artists in the business. She appears equally at ease when upping the tempo of Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, enjoying a rhythmic rumble with the work of George & Ira Gershwin or dipping into melancholia with Tom Waits, while her numerous non sequiturs in and out of tune do not derail proceedings. Instead, they delight in their self-depreciating deliberation, acting as a cheery cherry on what's already a fully-baked, icing-topped cake.

The ice is repeatedly, unexpectedly broken, the mood both lightened and enlightened. With the rather small jazz club as packed as it can be, dancing is out of the question, but there is plenty of foot-tapping movement, head-nodding appreciation, admiring gazes and bemusing grins. Especially during this particular performance of Dublin Morning, where an already dazzling combination of a piano solo, dreamy lyrics and Gershwin-esque tone features a Julie Andrews moment: My Favourite Things is, ahem, "borrowed" and given a Sound Of entirely new Music. Taken as a whole, it's rather special, and the perfect way to sign off for an interval.

When she's not pleasing with her bebop and blues, Carroll is uniquely intriguing in how she dips into the bag of musical history, creating medleys of familiar songs in genres that you wouldn't think they belonged in. It's a tone retained in a second half where she pounds her keys and belts her tunes with greater heart and emotion; at one point, it is quite clear that several people in the audience are entranced and enjoying great value for money. Where else in the city, it seems, could you find such amusing reference to and reliable reverence for the talents of Brian Blessed and Nina Simone in the same set?

Along with Carroll's improvisation, it is her way with the audience – a combination of the bashful, sly and boisterous – that makes this set stand out. It culminates in a poignant moment near the end when she invites John Leighton to accompany her on a fine, mellow performance of Fine Mellow - one of many highlights of a memorable and fully worthwhile gig.

Simon Fallaha

Liane Carroll performed at this year's City Of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival.