Ledisi – For Dinah
After her successful tribute to Nina Simone (“Ledisi Sings Nina”, 2021), singer Ledisi returns with a nod to the great Dinah Washington. Produced by Christian McBride and her longtime production partner Rex Rideout, she has come up with eight pieces more or less associated with the singer from Alabama. And she opens her set with “What A Difference A Day Made”, probably the most popular Washington tune. And Ledisi proves once again that she’s not only a prolific and powerful soul singer, but a jazz and blues shouter and belter as well. “If I Never Get To Heaven” is one of those signature blues numbers which she clearly internalizes in a thriving way.
“She gave me permission to move freely, create freely, be a woman in leadership, wear and say what I want.” And she really opens up with bold and radiant orchestration, arranged by Christian, on “Caravan” where she actually manages to create a version that ignites and fulfills. I was a bit reluctant at first because this tune has been recorded a million times, but she doesn’t disappoint. We also get a solid and straight cover of “Let’s Fall In Love” and I think she sounds best and most convincing on “You Don’t Know What Love Is” which also has Christian’s celestial bass playing. Her range here is almost out of this world. Gregory Porter duets with her on “You’ve Got What It Takes”, a blues staple which never really hit me. They both gel perfectly though. Paul Jackson, Jr. graces “You Go To My Head” with his wonderful, highly transparent guitar playing. It’s one of the highlights of the set, reminding me of the blissful Ella Fitzgerald/Joe Pass duo albums on Pablo Records. And the album concludes with a sweet and lovely version of “This Bitter Earth”, merging both her neo-soul side with a sexy arrangement (those strings!) and her jazz side with a grappling vocal performance. Ledisi celebrates the release of her album with a concert at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles today and she starts the second leg of her European tour soon, see dates below. And yes, the album is out on vinyl too!
10/09 London – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
10/10 Aulnay-Sous-Bois – Le Cap Nouveau
10/11 Cébazat – Sémaphore
10/13 Madrid – Sala Villanos
10/14 Barcelona – Sala Apolo
10/15 Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg
10/16 Den Haag – PAARD
10/17 Amsterdam – Q-Factory
10/18 Hautmont – Centre Culturel Maurice Schumann
10/19 Stockholm – Jazz Festival
10/21 Skellefteå – Sara Kulturhus
10/23 Oslo – Cosmopolite Scene
10/24 Malmö – Victoriateatern
10/25 Zagreb – Kino SC
