Description
Label Review.
Live at the Blues Alley Jazz Club 3rd January 1996
Our Overview.
A native of the Washington, D.C., area, the painfully shy Cassidy earned a local reputation as a masterful interpreter of standards from virtually any genre, blessed with technical agility and a searching passion that cut straight to the emotional core of her material. Despite the evocative instrument that was Cassidy's voice, record companies shied away from her, unsure of how to market her eclectic repertoire; for her part, Cassidy adamantly refused to allow herself to be pigeonholed, prizing the music above any potential fame.
Eva Cassidy’s performance at the Blues Alley jazz club has become musical history. Twenty years on, experience for the first time every song recorded on the night of the 3 January 1996.Bill Straw, President Blix Street Records says; “Of the 31 songs recorded that night: 12 were included on the original Live At Blues Alley album; 7 other Blues Alley recordings had been used on other Eva Cassidy albums; leaving 12 previously unreleased Blues Alley recordings, which included 8 new songs.
I have had the privilege of compiling eight Eva Cassidy albums, beginning with Songbird. In each instance, the luxury of Eva’s considerable catalogue, from various sources, served the basic premise that less is more. The daunting challenge of an album containing 31 tracks is the polar opposite…would more be less?
Fortunately, more turned out to be much more. The first listening to all 31 tracks in one sitting was an inspiring experience. Beginning at Capitol Records in the late 60’s, I had heard out-takes from the best of the best…but had never before heard anything that approached the sheer consistent vocal excellence of these 31 one-take, all on one night, performances. Hearing the ‘Full Monty’ also brought new appreciation of Eva’s Band and, specifically, the collective understanding of their respective roles in underscoring Eva’s musical genius across such a diverse musical landscape.
Nightbird, a super-album containing all 31 songs, affords everyone the opportunity to experience Eva Cassidy’s one night, one take tour de force. The couple of inevitable dropped lines actually enhance the overall effect…that what you are hearing really did happen…on the night of January 3, 1996.”