Amy Winehouse has talent: just ask Abramovich

Universal records boss Lucian Grainge says he's ecstatic about Amy Winehouse's new album, due out in 2009. "I've heard some songs that she's played me in my office on acoustic guitar," he told BBC 6 Music, "and what I've heard has been sensational."

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he? Winehouse has not released any new material in more than two years. This album, her third, has been repeatedly delayed.

But what if Lucian Grainge is right? What if the new album is really brilliant? It wouldn't surprise me. I was at the private gig Winehouse played in Moscow for the opening of Garage, the new art museum owned by Dasha Zhukova, girlfriend of Roman Abramovich. Physically Winehouse was, as might have been predicted, a complete mess. But vocally and musically she was utterly flawless.

That night the 25-year-old singer seemed very obviously

in no fit state to perform. Wearing what looked like a little girl's sundress, the hem of her skirt was so short you could see her underwear - contrary to other reports, she was wearing some: from the front row I couldn't avoid seeing it.

The famous beehive was flopping over her forehead. She could barely stand, using the microphone stand to hold herself up. In fact, she was so ill that the following week she was diagnosed with first stage emphysema.

That night, though, when she opened her mouth it was like someone else was singing: the old Amy. The strength of her voice blew you away. You just had to close your eyes to enjoy it. Because the pale, emaciated girl on stage certainly did not match up to what you were hearing.

She was being paid a rumoured £1m to perform for 45 minutes to an audience of 300. And even up until midnight there had been rumours that she was too unwell to perform and would be replaced by Debbie Harry. But Winehouse obviously knows how to put out, no matter what state she is in.

Winehouse was so ill the following week she was diagnosed with emphysema

So imagine this: if she can manage to perform so spectacularly when she is completely out of it, maybe she really can capture some kind of magic in the studio. Indeed this is perhaps Winehouse's most dangerous flaw: she is capable of maintaining an essence of musical genius even when she is wrecked.

Dasha and Roman were certainly happy customers. They had booked her because, Dasha told me later, "She is someone that everyone can appreciate - she bridges the generation gap."

She and Abramovich met Winehouse backstage after the performance and had their photos taken with her: "She is very sweet and pleasant," said Dasha. "There is a really nice aura about her." (An interesting way of describing Winehouse's state that night.)

Whatever happens let's hope they held onto the snaps. Third album or not, if Winehouse’s much-discussed death wish comes true, those pictures could turn out to be very precious indeed.