At 6.30 on a bleak Adelaide evening, things were smokin’ in the Space Theatre as McGregor and her trio of piano, double bass and drums sashayed through some jazz standards, a few pop classics, and one or two numbers just for fun.

From the opening notes of “The Man I Love” to the closing bars of “Peel Me A Grape”, McGregor was pitch perfect and oh so sexy. She is the embodiment of “naughty but nice”, super sexy in a playful pussycat way; she’s no wanton alley cat. I don’t think there was a woman in the audience who didn’t want to be her, nor a man who didn’t just want her.

McGregor is a classically trained singer who enjoys an illustrious career with the Australian Opera. In this show, she leaves opera behind to delve into the “darker side” of cabaret. She says these are the songs that made her want to sing when she was young.

From “Georgia on My Mind” and “Cry me a River” to songs by Prince, Justin Timberlake, Britney and Annie Lennox, there is a broad range of musical influences on display.

Her arrangement of “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” was truly superb. Her accompanying musicians were just as good, never overshadowing their leading lady but always there to bring out every nuance in the music.

Sadly, you’ve missed Ali McGregor for this festival; make sure you don’t miss out next time.

– Space Theatre, June 6 and 7