Jazz And Blues Have Never Sounded This Superb

By: C. Harrison/ March 24, 2015/1:24 am

                             photo credit: C. Harrison:  Cynthia Holiday

New York, NY…….Cynthia Holiday, performed three consecutive shows at Showmans Jazz Club, recently. The shows began at 9:30 pm the first show, 11:30 the second show and the last show at 1:30am. Showmans, is located in a quiet area of Harlem, at 375 West 125 Street. The themes for the  shows were “Lady Swing The Blues.” it will also be used for her upcoming shows.

The doors opened and there she was singing away, music to the ear and eyes instantly glued to the stage. Cynthia Holiday was singing one of her numbers for the trendy room. The day before Feb24, an interview with her carried over as far as listening to her and remembering some of what she had revealed, Holiday, was wearing a black sequence outfit….fitted to perfection. She was wowing the crowd, especially those in the front of the warm-cozy-setting and what seem like a great place to network and play.

The alluring Jazz club, packed to the hilt….seemed like everyone  knew Holiday’s first shows were at Showmans Jazz Club. Holiday never wavered, she gave us the best of her as she dazzled and thrilled us with her captivating voice. And her musicians kept up by infusing the music. People bopped their heads sway their hips to the sounds and tapped their feets; the realization was that this was Jazz, at its finest no disappointment here. The room was a mixture of people; some came as far away as from Canada, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and New York City.

According to the prime jazz singer, her do over of “That’s All,” is a well known standard, sang by Sara Barn, a famous jazz singer. She said that people will love the song all over again. “I choose it because people loved it,” she noted. Holiday also conceded that the thing about jazz is that you have to listen to it and if you should pick out a few jazz artist music, such as Miles Davis and others, you will see what she is saying. The song she said was already on her second album, which was recorded at Bridland’s Jazz Club, in New York City.

“I was born to a musical family, bands and singers use to come to practice. I would listen to all kinds of music, its in my DNA, music is my passion,” revealed the Jazz Artist.

Moreover, Holiday, also confirmed that she started off singing when she was a young girl, over time she began to explore and thereafter,  studied with various cultures. Insight of this, she sang R& B, but like a jazz singer…which sounds different but it included the Blues.

When asked what is a typical day in her life like, she interpreted herself this way, “The first thing I do is thank the Lord for family and friends. Then, I listen to music. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I go to body sculpting class like clockwork.”

The cosmopolitan Jazz Singer, further reframed to the fact that not only is she inspired by music but she was blessed to be able to do it. “I am not in it for the money, fame or fortune; even though I would love to have it. If that’s what you are in it for, you shouldn’t be in the entertainment business,” Holiday commented.

“I have learned to appreciate life. I am very much a live and let live person. Forget about the Jones, I am trying to keep up with myself. Do you; I am a very optimistic person.”  Cynthia, is a person. I am living my life the best way I know how. I am trying to be the best person I can be. A good citizen and good person to my family. And I am one person living on this earth,” Holiday said.

In addition, the Jazz Goddess contented that she is living for herself and those who love her. Singing she said once again, is her passion but it does not define her. “I am a mother, a wife, a citizen and I am me,” she said of herself.

The night consisted of a litany of Holiday’s favorites…which quickly became my favorites too, included: “You Got A Job To Do,” a rap that she wrote and appropriately called grown-up rap. “I Idolize You Baby,”  “Hush, Don’t Explain,” Momma He Treats Your Daughter Mean,” and my personal favorite “I Put A Spell On You.”

Aaa yes, I did not know the Cotton Club, in Harlem, but I read all about it and its hay days…..being at Showmans, I felt some what like I was there back then. I have been in Harlem many times to different events but, this was my first time coming to a Jazz Club in Harlem and I felt right at home and love every minute of it. Cynthia Holiday, is in her prime and is sensational.