R.I.P. SHIRLEY HORN


Ten years ago my friend P. told me he had tickets to see Shirley Horn at the Village Vanguard and asked if I wanted to go. Would I??? Being a HUGE jazz fan (did you know that about me?), it was like asking if someone wanted to have lunch with (insert your favorite star here).

I’d never been to the Village Vanguard, the infamous Greenwich Village jazz club, and was actually a little surprised it was so small. You hear about a place and in your head it assumes gargantuan proportions in accordance with it’s reputation. But no, the VV was just a small, smoky underground space that seated maybe 60 people.

Our reserved table was right in the front of the room next to the piano. As it turned out, it was the very piano where Shirley Horn (!!!) , already in her sixties, sat and played while she sang. I sat on a banquet so close, I literally could have reached out and touched her.

The concert was everything I could have hoped. She sang one of my favorite songs, “The Island”, her piano playing was amazing (I didn’t know from her recordings she played for herself at the time) and I was naturally amazed to be in the presence of such a goddess.

Afterwards we went and had a great meal, complete with outstanding raw oysters. It was the perfect meal to follow a perfect banquet. I won’t miss Shirley Horn because I have her brilliant recordings but I know the world will stutter and mourn the loss of such a great artist.

Ms. Horn, you will always rock my world. I look forward to hearing you sing again.

Recommended Listening : You Won’t Forget Me and Here’s To Life. I can’t tell you how many rainy winter mornings I’ve listened to these albums. The songs are those of a great traveler and when you’ve traveled a long road yourself, the sound will make you realize why you’ve always roamed.

4:58:46 PM    sro home /