Seattle, WA
March 23 and 25, 2006
I arrived at Jazz Alley to see Mindi Abair's show on the first of four nights, only to find a very long line of people waiting to get in, which is very unusual for Seattle on a Thursday night. Mindi's popularity is rising and I shouldn't have been surprised. Her music is played often on the local jazz station, 98.9 KWJZ . Her songs are upbeat, infectious and her live shows are incredibly energetic and fun to watch.
Mindi started her first set with the song "Play" from her
first CD, It Just Happens That Way, followed by
one of her first hits, "Salt and Lime." Mindi likes to talk about what was
going on in her life when she wrote a particular song and what inspired her.
She played "Every Time," from her second CD Come
As You Are next, and
told us of writing the song while falling in love with the man who recently
became her husband (sorry guys!) They played a funky rendition of coronetist
Nat Adderly's bluesy piece, "Work Song." Nat is the lesser
known brother of Cannonball Adderly. Each of the artists played an awesome
solo on this song, including Jamey Tate on drums, whose father used to be in
a band with Mindi's father years ago. Mindi said her parents and Jamey's
parents are thrilled that their kids are playing together now. Jay Gore,
Andre Berry and Rodney Lee are all equally talented musicians and played very
energetic solos.
Mindi has a new CD coming out on April 18 called Life
Less Ordinary. She played a few songs from the CD, including
the first single called "True Blue." I think we'll be seeing
this one on the Smooth Jazz charts soon. She also played "Do You Miss Me,"
which features Mindi's sweet, soft yet sultry singing voice. I liked this
song a lot. Mindi ended the set with her first hit song, "Lucy's," written
about a place on Melrose in LA that she used to play at in her early days
as a fledgling sax player. I need to check this place out the next time
I'm in LA, Lucy sounds like a great lady, and I hear her Margaritas are
fantastic!
I stayed for the second set, which ordinarily would have
been the same as the first set, but I guess they were in a playful mood, as
they decided to forego the planned set list and mix things up, and it was
quite different. They started out with "It Just Happens That Way," the title
track from Mindi's first CD, with an absolutely incredible bass solo by Andre
Berry. This man can play! He IS the funk master. They played another
song from the new CD called "Ordinary Love," and then an excellent version
of The Rolling Stones' song, "Miss You." The crowd really
enjoyed that one. Mindi played one more song from the new CD called
"The Joint," written about those small, dirty, smelly old bars that many musicians
spend lots of time in during their early years - I definitely got the feel
for "the
joint" with
this song. I loved it. I wouldn't be surprised if this song became
another hit single off the CD. It's great! From what I heard this
evening, the new CD is going to be as amazing as Mindi's first two.
I went back on Sunday with my husband Jeff and my 13-year-old
son, Kyle, who plays the alto sax. Mindi played to sold-out audiences
on Friday and Saturday, and the early Sunday show was also sold out. Jeff
and Kyle both loved the show. My husband was impressed that Mindi blends
a lot of different styles in her show and found that a very refreshing change.
He loved "Work Song," and she also played "Summertime," and he really
enjoyed that. She played another song from the new CD, called "Bloom."
Of all the new songs, I think this one is my favorite. It was so
beautiful and had a great hook.
Jazz Alley is the perfect venue for listening to Jazz music
in Seattle. The atmosphere is cozy and the music is always great! If
you come to Seattle, be sure to check out their schedule at www.jazzalley.com and go to a show while you're in town.
I love Mindi's tone and style. I've been a fan of
Dave Koz for years, and Mindi is the first sax player out there than I can
honestly say reminds me of Dave's style of playing, especially on the alto
sax. She said Dave was instrumental (no pun intended) in helping her make
her first CD. Let's all thank Dave Koz for that! What would smooth
jazz be today without Mindi's presence? Be sure to watch for her upcoming
appearance on Smooth Jazz TV with Cameron Smith, and check her out if she
tours in your area.
- Barb White |
