Corrine Bailey Rae takes Guinness Jazz Festival audience on pulsating journey back to roots of racism

Corinne Bailey Rae performs in the Cork Opera House for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. Photo: Darragh Kane

Barry Egan

“Don’t you know, earthlings, you can start again, ” Corrine Bailey Rae sang last night at her sold-out show in Cork. “Simply press ‘Refresh,’ to begin again.” It was a powerful moment as she stood onstage bathed in stage light, looking like a cosmic high priestess. She rang holy bells. She burned sage to cleanse the space.

This was less a gig than a ritual set to music, a night of catharsis and reflection, an act of faith in humanity at a very bad time in our history.