A many-faceted talent

If you haven't heard Jewel yet, you should. Classically trained in opera, she has the voice of an angel coupled with the power and gutsiness of a Janis Joplin.

Her style and songs are very much her own, though centred around her poetic lyrics and delicious melodies. Starting off on the American folk circuit, Jewel is now a megastar in the USA.

The Alaskan-born singer-songwriter played Bristol on the last night of the British leg of her Spirit World Tour - 60 cities worldwide in just over two months. She gave the packed audience a night to remember.

Live with a five-piece backing band, her music was a good deal raunchier than her records would suggest, and made the concert much more than a replaying of album tracks. Drawing mainly on songs from her recent album, Spirit, and her earlier, more folksy, Pieces Of You, her show was a delight.

Following a hilarious warm-up set from her friend Steve Poltz, Jewel started the show off in acoustic mode. This was Jewel as she built her reputation in American coffee bars. Black leather trousers, a low-cut black top, tangled long blonde hair, acoustic guitar and a vulnerable, intimate way of being with the audience.

When the band came on for the second number, I was afraid I would lose her amid the inevitable wall of sound. I was soon reassured though, as the band gave her the opportunity to show off many different sides of her talent - from heart-rending ballads with simple keyboard backing to Sheryl Crow style rock, jazzy vocal improvisation and even yodelling.

Watch out for her single, Down So Long, and the Spirit album, out now on the Atlantic label. And check out her website www.jeweljk.com

Blonde wonder from the tundra

A blonde 24-year-old surfer chick from Alaska may seem an unlikely singer to pack the Colston Hall.

But Jewel, relatively unknown in Britain, is a ten million album selling global phenomenon and her fans in the West turned out in force last night.

The Wonder from the Tundra as her fans call her, proved a powerful presence on stage, dressed to kill in leather trousers and tight body warmer.

Caressing her guitar, she dominated the spotlight.

Her voice, by turns crystalline and languid, then strong and piercing, soared and the audience - young and old - lapped it up.

"My voice is a little hoarse," she complained, but no one would have guessed it.

Jewel's a gem for the future

Alaskan singer Jewel completed her short British tour with a classy set which demonstrated just why her last album sold a staggering 10 million copies in America.

The blonde songstress has had one of those classic rags-to-riches stories which started with her singing in coffee bars and sleeping in a van because she couldn't afford to pay the rent.

Although still barely known outside of the States, Jewel still managed to attract a near sell-out crowd last night, and by the end of the two-hour show, the crowd were on their feet.

Hailed as the greatest female singer songwriter since Joni Mitchell, Jewel - dressed in black leather trousers and low-cut black top - started the show with just an acoustic guitar for accompaniment.

She was then joined by a solid five-piece band, including "best friend" Steve Poltz on guitar, who had appeared as the support act earlier in the evening.

Although the band added muscle to her complex and fragile songs, Jewel really sparkled on the numbers which required only an acoustic guitar or a piano as backing.

Whether singing folk, country or meatier rock numbers, she proved that she is a vocal gymnast with an incredible voice which ranged from a breathless whisper to a full-blown scream.

Ending with an epic version of the hit single Who Will Save Your Soul, Jewel returned for an encore safe in the knowledge that she had made a huge impression.

It can only be a matter of time before she matches her phenomenal American success this side of the Atlantic.