There is simply no voice as intimate, as true or as lovely as Nancy LaMott’s.
Having died much too young 12 years ago, Ms. LaMott has become iconic in the world of singers for the simple unadorned readings she gave of well-worn lyrics. Listen to her interpretation of “Moon River”. A lyric about longing and the unattainable becomes, in Ms. LaMott’s powerful talents, the surprised discovery of connection.
A tribute on Tuesday evening at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Square celebrated the release a new double-CD set of unreleased material and a companion DVD follows Ms. LaMott’s sometimes funny trajectory from saloon belter to artist. Hosted by David Freidman, her longtime producer and composer of several of her most popular songs, Lucie Arnaz and Kathie Lee Gifford sang tributes and shared delicious stories (these ladies are classy broads – I was very impressed by both).
But the evening belonged to Ms. LaMott. A clip from an Algonquin appearance shortly before her death is overwhelming. Singing an inspired medley of Cole Porter’s “Out Of This World” and “So In Love”, her ability to discover startling truths in lyrics and personalize them is absolutely stunning. I attended with a newish yummy friend John and an even newisher yummy friend Bill. At songs end all three of us were dripping tears. We repaired immediately to the bar at the Hotel Empire to recover.
Everyone has their favorite Nancy LaMott tracks. Mine? “I Have Dreamed”. “The Lady Down The Hall”. “Something Like You’ve Never Had Before”. “We Can Be Kind”. Too many others.
For years the Nancy LaMott story has centered on the tragedy of her death. I am so glad the time has come to celebrate her life!
Having died much too young 12 years ago, Ms. LaMott has become iconic in the world of singers for the simple unadorned readings she gave of well-worn lyrics. Listen to her interpretation of “Moon River”. A lyric about longing and the unattainable becomes, in Ms. LaMott’s powerful talents, the surprised discovery of connection.
A tribute on Tuesday evening at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Square celebrated the release a new double-CD set of unreleased material and a companion DVD follows Ms. LaMott’s sometimes funny trajectory from saloon belter to artist. Hosted by David Freidman, her longtime producer and composer of several of her most popular songs, Lucie Arnaz and Kathie Lee Gifford sang tributes and shared delicious stories (these ladies are classy broads – I was very impressed by both).
But the evening belonged to Ms. LaMott. A clip from an Algonquin appearance shortly before her death is overwhelming. Singing an inspired medley of Cole Porter’s “Out Of This World” and “So In Love”, her ability to discover startling truths in lyrics and personalize them is absolutely stunning. I attended with a newish yummy friend John and an even newisher yummy friend Bill. At songs end all three of us were dripping tears. We repaired immediately to the bar at the Hotel Empire to recover.
Everyone has their favorite Nancy LaMott tracks. Mine? “I Have Dreamed”. “The Lady Down The Hall”. “Something Like You’ve Never Had Before”. “We Can Be Kind”. Too many others.
For years the Nancy LaMott story has centered on the tragedy of her death. I am so glad the time has come to celebrate her life!
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