By Lucy Komisar
I first heard Libby York in Key West. A classic jazzy cabaret chanteuse. So, of course I wanted to see her at at the Mezzrow Club on West 10th Street in Greenwich Village. She was appearing there with Roni Ben Hur on guitar and Obasi Akoto on bass.
Mezzrow is what old speakeasy clubs used to look look, a floor below street level, a long narrow space lined with bar tables and seats, opening up in the music room. The rough walls are covered with paintings. You can see and hear from anywhere, but the low tables nearer the performers generally require a cover.
The club was named after Mezz Mezzrow, an iconic jazz clarinetist who played from the 30s through the 50s and died in 1972.
Libby is a repeat act at Mezzrow, her latest CD is on the Downbeat list of the year, and that may be why the room was filled with fans, including other singers. She’s a singer’s singer.
Usually, a singer’s act has a theme. Maybe “love.” Maybe “New York.” I was trying to figure that out when Libby told us, “It’s mostly songs you haven’t heard. I need to exhaust esoteric songs, because singers are here and they know all the songs!”
So, here’s a sample. But first, I point out that Libby has the old-fashioned jazz café style where it’s about being a storyteller, taking time for every word, that voice follows heart. And of course, her low register voice builds into a jazz rhythm delivery.
She is right about esoteric. I’d never heard most of them! I list the lyricists.
“I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT LOVE” 1956, Harold Adamson
I just found out about love and I like it, I like it
I like what love has been doing to meI hold you close in my arms and I like it, I like it
Oh, what a wonderful future I see
“I GO FOR THAT” 1938, Frank Loesser
Some people simply love to eat raw fish,
And pay high rent, and dance on broken glass.
Some people simply love to kill themselves, and sad to say,
I think I’m in that class, alas!
And her favorite chorus
You play the uke’,
You’re from Debuque,
I go for that;
“MOONRAY” 1952, Arthur Quenzer, on her Dreamland cd
Moonray,
Cast your spell upon my lover;
Under this starlit cover,
Use all your magic charms.
…. So moonray,
Put an end to all my sorrows,
Bless me with sweet tomorrows,
Bring back my love to me.
“SECRET O’LIFE” 1977 album, James Taylor
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain’t nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill
But since we’re on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride
“AZURE – TE” 1952, Donald E. Wolf
Gone and got the blues in Paris
Paris blues called Azure-Te
How can I be blue in Paris?
It’s easy ’cause you’re far away
One song was all about Libby. To celebrate a big birthday, in September she will do a show called “Libby Swings 80.” Her theme song, recalling a life of one-night gigs far from home, singing some lonesome song, could be (as she sang it) ….
“STILL ON THE ROAD” 1993. Bill Mumy and Earl Brown.
One night stands far from home
Singing some lonesome song
But when they light the lights and I hear the band
I know I’m right where I belong
I’ve got thousands of smiles to remember
And I’ve heard so many sweet stories told
I don’t have a shred of regret
And it’s a real safe bet
That next year I’ll be still on the road
Oh the road gets tawdry and tiresome
Sometimes I think I’m ready to fold
But I feel half my age
When I’m standing on stage
And I’m glad I’m still on the road
Did you recognize any of the lyrics?
Do you want to hear how Libby turned the words into delectable jazz?
Mezzrow is building audiences by putting shows on video! See her whole July 14th performance here. Unless you want to see the musicians set up, she starts at 15 minutes in.
Libby lives in Key West, but is moving to New York. There should be enough work to keep her in place for a while. And that’s good for New York jazz cabaret fans!
The Mezzrow Club, 163 West 10th Street, basement, NYC. Calendar. Doors open at 7pm. Sets are 7:30pm & 9pm (first group), 10:30pm & 12am (second group). Tickets.