Live at Blues Alley by Eva Cassidy (CD, Sep-1997, 1 Disc, Blix Street Records)

Without a doubt Live At Blues Alley is my favorite album from a singer who had an unbelievably perfect voice she could wrap around gospel, blues, folk, jazz and any other style of music she wanted to sing. I don't know that she ever knew how good she was; she just loved to sing but was too shy to pursue a career in a field that chews up and spits out much stronger personalities. But Eva commanded the stage when she sang. Listen to what she can do with Sting's "Fields of Gold," Billie Holiday's "Fine and Mellow, Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Tall Trees in Georgia" and "What A Wonderful World." Her voice singing Paul Simon's "Bridge over Troubled Water" simply makes my soul ache. This album contains 4 tracks from her 1998 breakthrough legend album, Songbird, but this intimate portrait of a singer in love with song and an audience in love with her pitch-perfect voice is my absolute favorite.


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I had been really looking forward to receiving this CD, and to listening to it for the very first time! When I received it, I tore open the case, threw it into my player, and settled in to play a rousing game of online Gin, when I was sort of disappointed. I was waiting for the Eva Cassidy of Songbird, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, etc., and (not being a huge fan of a blues riff in E) found that it truly IS a Blues oriented album. No offense, but I had a hard time getting through it. TOO SAD. And although Eva is well known for her melancholy, this was not for me. Blues lovers who love Eva will like it, though. Just not my cup o' tea.