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Shirley Horn
Shirley Horn
June 11, 2004 @ Scullers, Boston
 Attended
by a small entourage befitting a queen of vocal Jazz, Shirley Horn looked
as glamorous as ever and sounded even better! With her gown and gloves,
she brought even more class to Boston’s classiest club and the packed
audience ate up every bit of it! From the playful and subtle “How Am I To
Know?” to a peppy and gently scolding “Beautiful Friendship,” Horn wrapped
her warm, continental vocals around a variety of standards and
contemporary classics. Calling her set list live from her seat, Horn did
more with a subtle nod of the head or a knowing hum than most other
artists can do with pyrotechnics and dance teams. While “Take It Easy”
followed its own directions, “Old Man” swung on the porch with a barroom
piano and disconnected brushes. And though Horn’s whispery delivery was at
times overwhelmed by her trio’s taut percussion, bubbly syncopated bass
and darkly twinkling keys, she kept the crowd’s rapt attention and
rewarded them with favorite after favorite. An acappella rendition of
“Yesterday” absolutely silenced the room, which was otherwise filled with
toe-tapping and wildly applauding fans. After, “Get Out” - the “Killer
Joe” Blues about urban isolation – Horn returned to her retrospective
theme with “The Waiting Game.” Finishing her reassuring toast “Here’s To
Life” with a final wave of her velvet gloved hand, Horn reached out to
each and every guest and touched their ears and hearts one more time
before being escorted off stage amidst a throng of cheering attendants.
- Matthew S. Robinson
c. 2004, M. S. Robinson, ARR
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