"The Best for Last"

Andrea,  Diva of the Day

 

For my last show of year as your Diva of the Day I thought I would bring you some of my favorite women that I have played this year,  some new voices & sounds I think you will enjoy and a great interview with an amazing rising vocal star.

Today in the parlor, on this brisk winter's day, we celebrated "The Best for Last" cause this is what I feel like I have saved for us all.  Joining me in the parlor was the soulful, the sensational, the allegory speaking Jimetta Rose Smith.  She spoke of her philosophies on music, on the artistry of it all, and the fusion of Ella, Billie and Sarah.  

Check out what Jimetta had to say and what music was played in the parlor today by cutting and pasting here: http://bit.ly/u2MAq8 scroll down to Mid Day Jazz for Dec. 8, 2011, 1pm and click play.

Super Duper Shout Outs to fellow radio producer DJ Ausar for sharing wonderful women with me that appeared on this week's show, much appreciated! 

Be sure to keep up with Sophie's Parlor in the following ways,

Facebook - Sophie's Parlor Fan Page

Twitter - @sophiesparlor

Email -  sophieparlor@gmail.com

Support the women in the playlist because they made our day just a little bit brighter!

Remember! Sophie's Parlor is a show by women, about women, but for Everybody. 

Jazz for Thursday, December 8, 2011 - 1:00 PM
Artist	Song Title	Album
News
Pam Parker	Sophie's Theme	Imagine
Maimouna Youseff	When Music Breathes	The Blooming
Ama Chandra	I Shouldn't Have Let You Kiss Me	Destiny
Mary Lou Williams	Ring Dem Bells	Mary Lou Wiliams Story
Patti Austin	Lady Be Good	Avant Gershwin
Jill Scott	He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) (Movements I, II, III)	Experience: Jill Scott 826+ Live
Nina Simone	Mood Indigo	Four Women: The Nina Simone Phillips Recordings
Vince Vella F/ Danay Suarez & Julito Padron	Bailalo	Giles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura: The Search Continues
Eliane Elias	Take Five (Version 2)	Selections From Light My Fire
Jen Krupa - Leigh Pilzer Quintet	Scratch	JLQ
Phyllis Hyman	You Know How To Love Me	Southport Weekender Classics Vol. 1 CD1
Asa	The Way I feel	Beautiful Imperfection
Dee Dee Bridgewater	Miss Brown to You	To Billie WIth Love from Dee Dee
Jimetta Rose	Glory Us	The Barber's Daughter
Jimetta Rose	Sweet Necessity	The Barber's Daughter
Flora Purim	Light As a Feather	Butterfly Dreams
Zara McFarlane	Mama Done	Until Tomorrow
Eisley	Kind	The Valley
India	I Just Want To Hang Around You Mega Mix	Mega Mix

 

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Night Two of the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival

Two Sophie's Divas, Andrea Thompson and Helen Viksnins, share their impressions from the second night of the 2011 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, a tribute to Abbey Lincoln, at the Kennedy Center.

Andrea: The Abbey Lincoln tribute can not truly be summed up in one word, one sentence, even one article, but I do know this, if you missed this, you MISSED IT!!!!

Helen: And we know you missed it, because again we didn't see you there! (Warning: I have nothing but great things to say about last night's performance, so beware of gushings!)

Andrea: Jazz vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, and Cassandra Wilson teamed up for a trinity of talent that was only heightened by drumming sensation and Music Director Teri Lynn Carrington.

Helen: I'm in love with these women who are the ultimate in expressing their musical talent and creativity. I also need to acknowledge the performers who supported them. I don't know their names, but even though they are men (in a women's festival), I could sense their reverence for the music and for the beauties on the front of the stage.

Teri Lynn told a story as the evening began. That once Abbey had said to her that "Men play, women sing," and that as a woman drummer she didn't know how she felt about that. My answer to her is that her drums sing. Her heart sings through the drumbeats. Her heart sings through the backbone that she provides to the other artists on the stage.

Andrea: These four women were the four women that they needed to be, that Nina Simone spoke of, that grandma prayed for and that all of us tonight were anointed by. This evening was all a part of the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival that is presented yearly by the Jazz Program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This year, due to her recent passing, Abbey Lincoln was the focus of the second night of festivities and although she was not there in body, she was definitely there in spirit. The renditions of songs that Abbey sang, wrote, and often composed brought to mind the following statement.

These conjure women conjured up magic in homage to the conjurer who once taught them. Ethereal, surreal, and elemental. Having only seen these women apart, their trio tripled the energy, raised the bar for the musicians and the audience, and in the end sent many of us out of our seats with a soul stirring version of "Freedom Now".

Abbey Lincoln was a women who moved herself, people, movements, and these women. And boy did they move. Always one to be open to new things, I am totally a FAN, collective energy brings out the best in us and thanks to these ladies many of us left that theater more moved, dusted with a bit of Abbey's magic, and inspired to honor women who matter to us.

Helen: I was properly introduced to Abbey during this concert, and it's going to be one of my greatest pleasures to continue to get to know her. Dianne Reeves commented that Abbey wrote songs in all emotions - lightest love to deepest despair. We heard that and more last night.

There were two songs (besides the encore) where all three singers shared the stage: The River, Caged Bird and Freedom Day. The River is a description of Los Angeles freeways, believe it or not, and concluded with all three talking/chanting rhythmically to paint a picture of masses of people passing by, conjuring the murmuring of a river. [Andrea: Caged Bird is and was an amazing vocal exploration of sound, heart and harmonizing. These divas did Abbey’s tale of the courage and desires of those of “caged-in” with such justice it flowed over the microphones as if a luscious lullaby.] Freedom Day is the exuberance of the newly-freed slaves as they rush about to spread the news of emancipation, and is a part of Max Roach's Freedom Suite.



This was my first time hearing Dianne Reeves and Cassandra Wilson live. I was mesmerized by both, but especially by Cassandra Wilson, whose face was so open and welcoming! When she moved, it was as if she were made of grace.

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Night One of the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival

If you weren't at last night's Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival (Thursday, May 19), I'll let you know what you missed! Actually, I know you weren't there, because I didn't see you there.

The evening began with a moment of silence for the late Billy Taylor who was the founder of the festival in 1996. His big glasses and big grin were always such a beautiful thing to see each year. He was truly missed.

Overall, the evening went from cool to HOT! Mistress of ceremonies was Dee Dee Bridgewater. The evening was being taped for her Jazz Set with Dee Dee Bridgewater on NPR. Too bad it wasn't being taped for Sophie's Parlor! I noted to my friend Susan that I had personally interviewed six of last year's performers for my show. So far I haven't arranged anything, but it's on my personal to do list.

The first set was performed by the Jamie Baum Septet. Jamie is a New York City-based jazz flutist who had composed all of the numbers we heard. Besides the effervescent Linda Oh on bass and the composer/leader Jamie Baum, the other performers in the septet were men. I have this wish for more of the performers to be women at this festival, but that's just what I hope to see! The compositions were complex, I admire musicians who are able to perform at that level, especially when there are mis-steps during the performance. [This paragraph was edited, based on feedback from the artist.]

Then, we had the distinct pleasure to watch JaLaLa - a sparkly trio of singers: Janis Siegel and Laurel Masse (founding members of Manhattan Transfer), joined by Lauren Kinhan. Guess how their name was formed - LOL! We did enjoy this set, that was quite reminiscent of the past: Andrews Sisters'esque tight harmonies, Johnny Mercer songbook, Doris Day, and a killer rendition of Queen's Killer Queen. Everyone had a good time here: the performers and the audience!

The capstone of the evening was the HOT Tia Fuller. Dee Dee warned us before she came out that she would bedazzle us, and Boy, did she! She was poured into a golden one-strapped mini-dress and wearing a pair of the highest golden heels I've ever seen. Her saxes were as shiny as she was! Her group was composed of the husband and wife pair of Luis Perdomo on piano and Miriam Sullivan on bass, and her own brother-in-law Rudy Royston on drums. Her sister would have been on piano, but was unable to make it that night. She made a better effort of showcasing the women performers, by including Sheherezade Tennan (not sure of the name) at the drums and even more not sure of the name on the alto saxophone. This set made the joint jump with engaged musicians (only Luis used sheet music), who laughed and smiled and showed appreciation for each others' efforts. It was fast, it was slow, we laughed, we cried. A perfect ending of the evening, as I walked away with the saxophone melody in my mind.

Tomorrow evening is a tribute to Abbie Lincoln with some amazing women on stage. I can't wait!!!

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