Carmen Lundy!

Mike Schwartz · November-12th-2003, 10:45 PM

This amazingly talented woman has been among my personal faves for the past several years, but hadn't seen her until last nite at Yoshi's.

Talk about something being worth the wait...WOW!

In an electrifying, exciting, emotional, varied, superbly performed set, her first ever northern California gig [couldn't believe that until she told me so] was a smashing success! It was a one niter, but after the buzz from what went down last evening, I'd guess she not only will get invited back but for a longer stint.

Standing *O* at the end of the 2nd set, and once again after a single encore.

The same musicians at the gig as the new Justin Time CD "Something To Believe In" except Robert Glasper on piano instead of Anthony Wonsey.

Her brother Curtis on bass,Mayra Casales/percussion, Victor Lewis/drums who is SO, SO, SO, SO GOOD, and Regina Carter's violin, just as perfect as can be in a supporting roll with plenty of room to shine, as she does on the CD. This CD is my #1 female vocal choice of the year if I had to choose.

Lundy as singer/songwriter/composer/arranger so self assured that her talented band knows that it can completely cut loose knowing that Carmen can hang. It's just that simple and why her sound is always so good....it's always a jazz band playing at a high level and not having to 'take it down a notch' to accomodate the singer, in any way shape or form [ not putting anyone down]

They took us from boiling hot, to sublime quiet and anywhere you might want in between.

Got to congratulate Ms. Lundy and crew backstage afterwards, she having been a terrific guest on my show 11/02

Myself, many in the audience, the friends I was with blown away with how great the show we saw last nite. I'd even say that Carmen herself was blown away by the incredible reception she received. There were some excited people backstage after the show. In fact one of my buddies comments on the ride home " I think that's the best show I've seen in my entire life!"

It WAS very special!!

James Lee · November-13th-2003, 12:51 AM

Thanks for the review, Mike. I have only one (fine) Carmen disc in the collection -- "Self Portrait." Time to give it a spin.

Pete C · November-13th-2003, 10:18 PM

Glad you enjoyed her, Mike. When I saw her a couple of years ago I found her painfully mannered & overly histrionic. But I also don't like the much revered Diane Reeves, whom I find embarrassingly bathetic (in spite of her undeniable vocal gifts).

Mike Schwartz · November-13th-2003, 10:57 PM

Pete,
Different strokes and all that...
I've dug her on recordings, have listened to her most recent many times in getting ready for the interview we recently did, as well as several times just for fun. It's even gotten praise from my unknowing coworkers who drift into my office from time to time. I'm often spinning a CD on the PC. Everyone has made a positive comment the times that Lundy was on, the same folks that don't take any notice at all otherwise...even the ones who notice that Schwartz is in his office playing that *weird shit*

I went to my Dictionary/Thesaurus program for histrionics:

There's the showmanship and dramatics take on it [which I had no problem with]...OR

The melo_dramatics, artificially affected way of lookig at it

The music and the singing was outstanding from beginning to end from where I was sitting. That's all I can tell you, my friend.

Pete C · November-14th-2003, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Schwartz
Pete,
Different strokes and all that...

Indeed. I felt comfortable mentioning my take because I knew you don't take taste differences personally.

Brian Olewnick · November-14th-2003, 12:15 PM

Ahh, what does Pete know, anyway? I only know Lundy from her work with Kip Hanrahan, but I love what I've heard. Her rendition of "Love Is Like a Cigarette" from 'Days and Nights of Blue Luck Inverted' is just gorgeous.

Mike Schwartz · November-14th-2003, 12:49 PM

Brian,

I haven't heard any of those recordings; noticed that she was on several with Hanrahan. Any recs? Thanks

Brian Olewnick · November-14th-2003, 01:03 PM

Mike, Hanrahan's certainly an acquired taste (he fuses his own very personal/political lyrics with a music based on a confluence of Cuban, jazz and downtown NYC rock), but of the discs Lundy is on, the one I mentioned above is probably the best step in. It originally came out on Sting's short-lived Pangaea label in, iirc, 1988 and has been reissued I think on Justin Time. In addition to the Ellington/Strayhorn piece, there's a real nice cover of Piazzolla's "Ah! Intruder!" as well as a bunch of Hanrahan originals. David Murray plays on a number of the songs as well as George Adams, John Stubblefield, Steve Swallow, Milton Cardona etc.

The other Hanrahan discs she's on are more pot luck affairs, imho. Hanrahan has tended to put out discs in recent years that consist of recordings done over lengthy periods with disparate groups that he later attempts to give some coherence. Doesn't always work, though there are usually a few jewels to be found.

The other female singer he's made superb use of (especially on the Conjure discs he produced with Ishmael Reed) is Clare Bathe, who apparently had some success as a disco singer back when. Her singing on Allen Toussaint's "Runnin' for the Office of Love" is just great.