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What a great show! Cassandra has mastered her ability to maneuver her voice over, under and around the notes of each song. She interpreted each song making them seem new. Her band was excellent!!! Appreciative crowd that held their applause til the very last note of each song. Really good time.
Cassandra Wilson has created music with such unique sounds, colors and styles that you recognize her from a couple of notes - like Miles' on the trumpet. Her combination of familiar songs with her unique arrangements and post-modern influences are daring indeed but they work. Who else could end Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" with a thrashing guitar break and make it seem appropriate? I came from New Zealand to hear her (she has actually played there a couple of times) and to be there in the famous Apollo Theatre for her performance of her Billie Holiday arrangements, on the latter's 100th anniversary, was an unforgettable highlight in a lifetime of listening to jazz.
Cassandra has a great, distinctive voice and delivery, and her band is SPECTACULAR. They wander outside the bounds of jazz wherever they want to go--mesmerizing.
run-of-the-mill easy listening jazz throughout, all songs are from Coming Forth By Day, except they left out Strange Fruit. It's almost like she thinks it'd be too challenging for the audience. Or for her, in 2015, where she no longer puts her heart into her reinterpretations.
they changed the tempo of EVERY song, did not sing all the most popular cuts, and she only sang for a combined 30 minutes. Between walking off stage twice, talking to the musicians and sitting in a chair on stage, she only sang for 30 mins. The bass player played at a high school level. The rest of the band was tight.
It was everything and more than I thought it would be, and I wasn't surprised. ( How could it not be?) We are talking Cassandra Wilson, glorious , gorgeous and glamorous...Cassandra Wilson. What a talent, what a show, what a woman! I had high expectations and they were all met! From start to finish the show was one wonderful moment after another. First off was a fabulous back up band loaded with talent and a excellent grasp of the material. Then there was Cassandra's matchless, expressive alto voice like the cream in a cup of coffee. This was an evening of Billie Holiday covers that was a tour de force of jazz, blues, and a touch of folk of the highest quality. The numbers came one after another, a seamless playlist of the best of the best! Brava Cassandra, you are up there with the finest, it was an evening I will not soon forget. Thank you, I was thrilled!
Great voice and great songs. But the accompaniment, oh dear. Fair enough that she chose not to have traditional jazz arrangements, but reworked most of the songs to give them a rock-ish edge, something more contemporary. Not my top choice, but as I say, fair enough. But most of the instruments were electrified and thus LOUD, often almost overwhelming her voice. That electrified violin - screechy, whoever thought that was a good idea. I would love to hear her sing these same great songs with a conventional, acoustic small group. Sad to say, this concert was not a pleasant experience.
I have seen Cassandra Wilson before, and loved her singing. I was thrilled to see that she was doing a tribute to Billie Holiday in celebration of Billie's 100th birthday. When she came out to sing "The Way You Look Tonight", I was filled with eager anticipation. I was disappointed. I don't think the band did a sound check before the performance, the bass player had a number of problems initially, and the piano was almost inaudible. The sax/clarinetist was excellent, although his flute was inaudible. When one thinks of Billie Holiday, a small plaintive voice, filled with emotion, backed by subtle, nuanced phrasing and texture, is what one expects. Instead, the performance was overwhelmed by her guitarist, performing balalaika-like strums, country music twangs and slides, and at times, just fiddling with knobs on his sound processors. There was an electric violin, who other than a few well-placed Grapelli-like licks, sounded, well, electronic...there were country, techno-pop arrangements, and at one point the drummer played a straight rock 4/4 behind a classic. There were even "theremin" sounds, either from the guitarist or keyboardist, not sure which. After the set, which did NOT include "God Bless the Child", "'Round Midnight" or "Strange Fruit", she left the stage, her band continued for about 5 minutes, milking the applause. The audience started leaving before the lights came up. I waited, hoping for an encore to hear Cassandra sing Billie's "hits", but after hanging around too long listening to the band, I also left. I was hoping for magic, and instead, heard gimmicks. A missed opportunity. Sorry.
The servers at the Howard theater leave a lot to be desired. They make you feel as if you are disturbing them.
It was our first time at the Howard. It was a nice, romantic evening for us. We will definitely return.
Although I like Rock music and go to many Rock concerts, this was not why I went to see Cassandra Wilson. I went to hear her silky smooth voice in jazz renditions. Sadly, all the songs I heard but one were Rock where her voice could hardly be heard above the guitars. The volume was also too high for the venue.
Muddled and unstructured....not strong enough to stand alone. An opening act at best.
This whole show was really incredible. Tawana Shaunte and her band killed it, I wish there were space for dancing though. The Paperclip Scientists played a great set then were joined again by Tawana + band AND Cassandra even had to get out there to sing and get down with them, they were having such a good time up there. And, of course, Cassandra with Harriet Tubman were beautifully hypnotic, by the end of the set I was in a trance that I had to leave slowly so as not to not break from reality. All of the sets combined perfectly together, I'd love to see them all playing together again.
Dear Cassandra, When I pay for a ticket to see YOU headline a show, it would be nice if you could play for more than 20 minutes. Just sayin'.
Cassandra Wilson is back. I've seen Ms. Wilson numerous times..too many to count, but the last 2 times, I was disappoited to say the least. So I gave it one more try, and she did not disappoint. She was amazing, her voice was strong she was engaging with the audience, she was funny, awww I feel in love again. Thank you Ms. Wilson for helping me celebrate four more years with President Obama and letting my heart and mouth smile.
The Howard Theatre was almost just as Amazing as Cassandra Wilson! This was my first time to the Theatre since it's renovation and all I can say is "what have you been waiting for". It's what DC has been missing, a live music dinner theatre that does'nt cost you an arm and a leg like Blues Alley. Ticket prices are great, food was very good AND Cassandra Wilson was Phenominal! The sound sytem was the best I ever heard which made her voice sound even better!!!
Cassandra Wilson was absolutely fantastic. I do wish the show could have been longer but really, just seeing her perform for an hour was the best. The venue was great as well, wonderful acoustics, great seating; but the service was a little slow. The food was excellent, just wish it hadn't taken so long. I don't like eating my food while I'm listening to the musician.
Cassandra's performance was wonderful. Her band is incredible. I can't wait until she comes back to DC.
Wilson is unbelievable in concert--astounding voice, deep emotion, brilliant taste, fascinating arrangements. Even injured (in pain?) and seated throughout the concert, she was mesmerizing. She has an amazing rapport with the audience, chatting, talking about Obama's re-election, etc. Her band is top-notch and the collaboration superb--including a longtime guitar player, super percussionist, and outstanding harmonica player Grégoire Maret. Maret has just released the first album of his own compositions, with Wilson and other luminaries featured--he would be worth seeing with or without Wilson. The sound at the Howard Theater, gorgeously renovated, is excellent. The experience was marred only by the horrific service, outrageous parking prices, and mediocre and overpriced food at the Howard. Our server was AWOL, our table-mates only got their bottle of wine as the show was about to end, leaving them to chug it and scarf their food. Howard, fix this!!
The venue was wonderfully intimate and comfortable; not a bad seat in the house. The interview portion of the evening was interesting but a little too pedestrian. The music portion was completely amazing and completely too short; only three tunes. But at $25.00, a ticket I got my money's worth.