f8 and b there's photostream

SetsGalleriesTagsPeopleArchivesFavoritesProfile

Shirley Horn

One of the finest jazz vocalists of all time, Shirley Horn was also an incredibly talented pianist. I had the honor of hearing her perform on this sultry Saturday afternoon at the 2005 New Orleans Jazz Fest. In poor health, battling breast cancer and recovering from a foot amputation as a result of diabetes, she was brought to the stage in her wheel chair where she promptly took total charge over the packed audience that had been waiting all afternoon to hear her.

Sadly, Shirley Horn passed away six short months after this appearance at the age of seventy-one. Diana Krall has cited her as a major inspiration and influence. Anyone who has ever heard her smoky contralto voice slowly navigating its' way through a ballad will understand her greatness. Check out her 1992 album, 'Here's to Life'.

Uploaded on Mar 12, 2010

0 comments