On the gentler side, there was the wistful Gillian Welch closer, with each instrument having its intimate conversation with Jessie Cassin's tender vocals.
Colours dazzled, from an mbira duet signing off a Smiths song, to Callum Passells' impressive shifts from sax and clarinet to world-weary accordion.
There was a curatorial zest in mashing songs together. Who would have thought that 80s vintage Smiths could partner a wry Loudon Wainwright lullaby from a decade before?
Later, an elegant Piazzolla tango encased Cassin's smouldering tribute to Nina Simone in Don't Smoke in Bed.
Instrumentally, these players caught the linear cool of Stravinsky, deftly arranged by Cowan, yet broke out and bloomed in moments of freedom. Kevin Keys' trombone, sliding into the nostalgia lounge for '60s Mancini, was a definite highlight.
With Daniel Williams' imaginative set exquisitely lit by Rachel Marlow and Brad Gledhill, this stylish divertissement was beautifully paced by director Renee Lyons.
In the final count, though, the musicians made the show, centred on the vocal contributions of the inexhaustible Cassin and the soulful Mikey Brown.
Jonathan Burgess moved as effortlessly between electric and acoustic bass as Cowan balanced cello with banjo. Tristan Deck was molto simpatico as a top-notch percussionist must be, while Charmian Keay offered glamour and fine fiddling, on and off the bed. And let's not forget a particularly sleek guitar solo from Jonnie Barnard that would have had Gillian Welch herself beaming.
The Blackbirds have come up with a dream of a show. Don't miss it.
What: Blackbird Ensemble's Dreams
Where: The Basement, to April 18
