Tony and I went to the Red Barn Community Theatre last night to see the play, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," a review of Billie Holiday's songs and life.
I'm not a big jazz fan, but Billie Holiday was a legend. She had no formal voice training, but sang the blues with haunting sincerity and a sadness that made her seem lonely and afraid. With white gardenia's in her jet black hair, she was a vision.
Billie only lived 44 years, and it was a hard 44 year life sentence. She was deserted by her father when she was very young, was raped at 10, jailed as a teenager for prostitution, addicted to drugs before she was 20 and, after singing in "blacks only" jazz clubs (like Emerson's), was one of the first black women to be the featured singer for an all white, big band, singing with Artie Shaw, who was one of the biggest name stars of the time.
She suffered from racial discrimination at every turn--often not being allowed to use the bathroom facilities at major clubs and events where Artie's band played. But, it was drugs that brought her down. Hooked on heroin, she went back to Emerson's Bar and Grill in Philadelphia. Her voice took on a gravely sound and her songs were laced with sad snippets of a hard life.
The play was a one woman show and for an hour and a half, LaRaisha DiEveyln Burnette, delivered her version of Billie. It was good.
We stopped at the City Club after the play and then at a new place we found, called The Tasting Room--it's a wine store with a tasting area and out back, there is a small place to sit and listen to music. We met two new couples and had a really good time comparing notes on wine and getting to know them.
It was a fun night.
No comments:
Post a Comment