Today's Listen:
Dee Dee Bridgewater -- LIVE AT YOSHI'S
Bridgewater(v), Thomas Bramerie(b), Ali Jackson(d), Thierry Eliez(p)
Recorded Live at Yoshi's in Oakland,CA 1998. This would have been Ella Fitzgerald's 80th Birthday.
9 Songs. 8 Standards. She did a, mercifully short, fun take on James Brown's 'sex machine'. She even tried to sing it as she thought Ella would have sung it!! Some things are best left to Brown!
This was a probably a great show to see in person. There was just too much going on that had to be seen to be appreciated. Too much talk and attempts at humor.
All the listener gets is the audience's reaction, with no idea of what is being done on stage. Ok, the first time around, a little tedious with repeated listening.
A great version of 'Midnight Sun'. The rest were good but not 'must haves'.
The group backing her was very good. Esp the Bass player.
Quite a bit of scatting. Not up to Ella's standard, but she has spoiled us all. Dee Dee has a good voice but she cannot do it as effortless as Ella. But who could?
Bridgewater just might be the best of the Jazz Divas still performing. She does love her work!
Very Good, but not great CD. Make sure you have her 'tribute to horace silver: Love and Peace' first.
Cheers