The great singer and pianist Blossom Dearie died on Saturday.
I first discovered Blossom Dearie's music in 2001, when I heard her song Manhattan in one of the musical interludes for a Fresh Air episode in the first weeks after 9/11. I had never heard Blossom Dearie and I was completely floored—by the lyrics, by the performance, by the perfectly nostalgic wistfulness that was overwhelming after the tragedy that had just struck, the recollection of innocence.
And Tell me what street compares to Mott Street in July
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by
The great big city’s a wonderous toy
Made for a girl and boy
We’ll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.
In 2001 or 2002 my wife and I went to see Blossom Dearie perfrom at Danny’s Skylight on W 48th Street in Manhattan, where she played regularly for years and where the photo, above, from the NY Times obit, was taken. Her voice had lost some of the whispery quality that used to characterize it, but she was still a master of understatement and timing—and her piano playing was brilliant as ever. It was one of the great performances that I have seen.
I've put together a new Opentape as a tribute to Blossom Dearie and her music. Click on the song list to listen.
(This blog post is adapted from one I posted earlier on my tumblr. Photo by Rahav Segev for The New York Times.)
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