Jalylah Burrell

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Seattle-bred, Brooklyn-based cultural critic Jalylah Burrell riffs on anything and everything.

Sathima Bea Benjamin Celebrates Her Record's Re-Release

Posted 01/21/2008 at 3:56 PM | 2 comment/s

This past Wednesday at a little west village jazz club obscure South African jazz vocalist Sathima Bea Benjamin (pictured left) celebrated the reissue of her impeccable 1963 debut, A Morning in Paris. An unassuming vocalist with a smart and nuanced delivery and Billie Holiday's deft behind the beat timing, Benjamin's profile has never reflected her exceptional talent. And although older, her voice remains clear as displayed Wednesday night when she eased through 6 songs--"Falling in Love is Wonderful", "Star Eyes", "All Too Soon", "I'll Be Seeing You", "Something to Live For", and the ethereal "Wind Song"--before inviting her daughter Jean Grae to join her for a paean to Africa. Grae tentatively took the stage openly shook at the prospect of following her mother. She hummed faintly in and of the composition before delivering her verse from Talib Kweli's "Black Girl Pain", which memorably calls her mother by name and speaks her challenges into hip hop record. Here is a little footage:

Tags: Jazz, Jean Grae, Sathima Bea Benjamin

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jburrell says:

Indeed, Jean went to LaGuardia High School and her course of study was voice. She sings on some of her records but she tends to downplay that talent though.

01/25/2008 at 2:02 AM

professorf says:

i must admit, grae has a more gracious voice than i expected. i can see her as jazz singer, and wonder whether that in fact might be her calling.

01/24/2008 at 3:29 PM