How do you pass judgement on Sheila Jordan? Or the Mona Lisa or a Shakespeare sonnet? The answer is that you don't, posterity has done it for you. However, unlike the Mona Lisa sitting ageless in The Louvre or a Shakespearean sonnet comparing someone rather datedly to a summer's day, Jordan, despite her 90 plus years continues to perform and wow the audiences (going by the applause at this venue).
This selection recorded live in NYC is rather like some of Billie Holiday's latterday recordings where you hear what you want to hear rather than what you are actually hearing. Don't get me wrong, if anything, the imperfections add to the appeal. With Billie it was the trials and tribulations she struggled to overcome. With Sheila it's the eternal young woman belying her venerable status trying to recapture, and most times succeeding, those days back on 52nd St, hanging out around the bebop joints listening to Bird.
Needless to say the accompaniment by Broadbent and Harvie S is simpatico plus. Not just on the two instrumentals: What is This Thing Called Love? and Blue and Green but also the sensitive way they integrate with the singer.
For those of us who have heard Sheila live and on record over the years this is essential whilst first timers may need to listen a few times to capture the magic. Lance
Available from the Cellar Music Group. See also...
Bird Alone; The Touch of Your Lips; What is This Thing Called Love? (inst.); The Bird and Confirmation; Look For the Silver Lining; Falling in Love With Love; Baltimore Oriole; Blue and Green (inst.); Autumn in New York; Lucky to be me.
No comments :
Post a Comment