The Lovely Ms. Scott
It was loads of fun to have New Orleans vocalist Cindy Scott in the house this past weekend. Cindy was making a swing through the Northwest and played at Bake’s on Saturday as part of our ongoing Visiting Songbird series.
Cindy opened the set with an easy swing: the Roger’s and Hart tune “You Took Advantage of Me”. Her voice was strong and full with a warm tone and a hint of her lovely southern accent. Her style was relaxed and accessible. Her knack for telling a story was immediately apparent. Cindy was joined by a knockout band: Randy Porter on piano, Paul Garbrielson on bass and John Bishop on drums. The synergy of vocalist and band was infectious, and together they took us on a musical ride that encompassed many moods, stories and grooves.
There were many great moments throughout the night. Among them was Cole Porter’s “Get Out of Town” which was a fun 6/8 romp with an Afro-Cuban feel. Another notable number was one of Cindy’s original compositions “Let This Love Last”, which had a sexy, contemporary groove and again, highlighted Cindy’s natural ability for storytelling. Cindy also had a particularly nice touch with her Brazilian selections, and she absolutely soared on Dori Caymmi’s composition “Obsession”.
It was only my second time to hear and see Portland pianist Randy Porter, who really knocked my socks off. He seems to fully embody any type of groove that an arrangement asks for, and his solos are hip, intelligent and beautiful. He has an uncanny ability to create a great sense of drama with the utmost of simplicity. I don’t know how he does it, but this guy can do anything. This no way diminishes the rest of the band either. Gabrielson and Bishop were spot on and happening. There couldn’t have been a better support trio.
There is no mistaking that Cindy definitely possesses a southern sensibility, which is laid back, genteel and relaxed. Her between song banter expressed a warmth and authenticity that immediately resonated with me. (I’m an Oklahoma native, and it’s not often that I hear someone say, “Ya’ll”, at least not in these parts.) We spoke after the show, and I found her just as engaging and comfortable in a one on one conversation. I felt like I’d made a friend. Cindy Scott is a rock solid vocalist, who gives it all she’s got without pretense or artifice. She is the real deal, and what a pleasure it was to have her in the living room.