I Own That CD! - Cassandra Wilson

When the topic of great jazz singers comes up - who comes to mind? Ella, Billie, Frank, Nat and Nina are always near the top. But maybe another name needs to be considered. Cassandra Wilson.

A singer/songwriter out of Jackson, Mississippi, Wilson is heavily influenced by Betty Carter and Abbey Lincoln and has a contralto voice that has been variously described as rich, smoky, and deep and hazy. Her masterpiece, New Moon Daughter, was released in 1995 and it’s today’s feature on I Own That CD!

This is not traditional jazz - Wilson combines jazz, with blues, roots, country and, even, pop. Opening with the classic, “Strange Fruit”, her voice intertwines with the choppy music, especially the fantastic guitar playing of Chris Whitley. There have been many versions of the song over the years with Wilson’s doing justice with a deep, brooding version.

Up next is one of the best covers ever. Wilson’s take on “Love Is Blindness” by U2 is stunning. It’s a crossover that nobody saw coming. It’s just as haunting as the original, but a bit gentler in its presentation. Don’t discount the power in Wilson’s voice though.

There are five original tracks written by Wilson, the best of the bunch being “A Little Warm Death”. An uplifting song that fits so well among the covers, due to her voice and the instrumentation that mimics throughout the whole release. It’s got some of my favorite lyrics she’s written: “Come on relax with me/Let me take away your physicalities.”

The rootsiness of this release is unexpected from a jazz artist, but then again, so are some of the choices of songs.

Tackling two rootsy artists (Hank Williams, Neil Young) is a bold choice. But one that Wilson tackles with grace and beauty. The backing music to “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is in fact, lonesome. The sparse arrangement gives space for Wilson to explore the song. And “Harvest Moon” (a favorite on bedtime playlists for my kids when they were younger) brings me chills. Wilson strips away the joy that Young performed and trades it in for a solemn track.

The most fascinating cover is “Last Train to Clarksville” from The Monkees. It’s a playful, sensual reinterpretation of a truly great pop song. This is for another post, but let’s discount the songs of The Monkees. It’s a scat, almost funky track that stands out as her own.

This is special from start to finish - Highlighting one of the greatest voices of our time. You need to take the time to listen to it - from start to finish - and if you want, you can borrow my copy.