Jacqui Naylor
is a rarity -- a singer/songwriter who often headlines well-known
jazz
clubs but is likely to include a lot of
folk-rock
performances in her sets.
Naylor
is quite capable of performing straight-ahead
, drawing on influences like
Billie Holiday
and
June Christy
. But on this live double CD -- which includes a disc that was recorded at
Birdland
in New York City in 2003 and
Yoshi's
in Oakland, CA, in 2004 --
doesn't stick to straight-ahead
by any means.
Live East/West: Birdland/Yoshi's
shows the Northern Californian to be a bluesy
vocalist who is equally appealing as a bluesy
/
adult alternative
artist.
's
side asserts itself on her original material as well as arrangements of
the Shirelles
'
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"
Buffalo Springfield
"For What It's Worth"
-- and when she's in
mode, one hears a healthy appreciation of
Tracy Chapman
,
Natalie Merchant
, and
Sheryl Crow
. But
side prevails on performances of
George Gershwin
"But Not for Me"
Billy Paul
"Me and Mrs. Jones."
Of course, the fact that
fluctuates between
vocal jazz
doesn't mean that she's going out of her way to compartmentalize -- it isn't like she's consciously saying, "OK, I'm going to be influenced by
at 9:30 and
at 9:35."
has genuinely eclectic tastes, and whether she veers closer to
or
is merely a matter of what feels good on a particular song. Also, the two can easily overlap; on
"Black Coffee,"
for example, she brings to mind
Chapman
simultaneously.
Live East/West
isn't recommended to
bop
snobs or
purists, but those who are broad-minded enough to enjoy
Anita O'Day
one minute and
10,000 Maniacs
the next will find this two-CD set to be excellent and delightfully unpredictable. ~ Alex Henderson