Bake’s Blog: In The Pocket

Jackie Ryan was in the house this past weekend and oh what a magical time it was. Jackie played to packed and enthusiastic rooms both nights, and there was a palpable hum in the air even before the first downbeat. When Jackie took the stage, she said that she and the band would be taking us on a musical journey, and she delivered in spades. She kicked off the evening with a hard-swingin’ romp- “Welcome to the Club”, a tune that was recorded by Nat King Cole. And this was just the beginning! Jackie took us through a musical adventure that included a wonderful selection of great songs and a wide range of moods: hip, cool, beautiful and melancholy. She kept things swinging all night with such great songs as Let There Be Love, Destination Moon & You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To. Many of Jackie’s selections were arranged by the esteemed jazz pianist Tamir Hendleman and to this listener’s ear, had a specific groove accentuated by very hip bass lines. Jackie’s ballads were lovely and heartfelt and really drove home her natural knack for storytelling. You’ll See was particularly moving. Jackie also sang several Latin selections. Notable were Slow, Hot Wind by Henry Mancini and The Crossroads and Besame Mucho by Antonio Carlos Jobim. The latter, which was requested by an audience member, was stunningly passionate and riveting. It took my breath away.

Jackie’s voice is full and powerful. Her tone is lovely and has the slightest hint of an accent, a shade from her Latina heritage. Technically, she is flawless. However, Jackie’s strength as a performer runs much deeper than mere singing. She is warm and gracious and posses a great sense of humor. Her rendition of Baby, Do Something was delightful fun. Her between song banter included stories about the songs, appreciation for her audience and frequent homage to her band, which was a powerhouse trio featuring Randy Halberstadt on piano, Larry Hollaway on bass and Gary Hobbs on drums. The band delivered the goods all evening, and Jackie was very clearly pleased. “They grow ‘em good here in Washington”, she said. The music was energized, but the evening was very relaxed. Jackie made it feel like we were all old friends. She introduced a table of fans from Peru, Portugal and Panama and also sang “Happy Birthday” to a handful of guests that were celebrating. She also took the time to educate the audience, and asked Hobbs to talk about the “cajon”, which was the percussive box he utilized throughout the evening. (“Cajon” literally means “box” and is an Afro-Peruvian percussion instrument.) Two hours went by very quickly, and at the end of the evening, I couldn’t have felt more satisfied. Jackie Ryan is an outstanding vocalist and a truly charming performer. I was sad that the journey was over so soon.