Where do I go from Eva Cassidy?


Try to understand where I’m coming from and please bear with my eclectic taste.

With fleeting exceptions, I listen exclusively to Classical music (professional musician and Classical junkie). I’ve heard all the popular song styles, but nothing really appeals to me (no offense, please). My wife asked for an “Eva Cassidy” (who is she?) album for Christmas. So, I bought her ”Song Bird” and we both loved it! Listening to Eva Cassidy was a transforming experience for me. Beauty, Subtlety, Freshness, Artistry, Poetry, an Essential Spirituality and somehow she makes the unbearable in life suddenly seem--bearable. Everything else (non-Classical) just seemed like meer entertainment (no thanks). Here was a transporting poetic and spiritual experience. Now, I play her all her albums over and over and over…. Eventually, I might also listen to something else (non-Classical)?

But, where to go from here? As fussy and unsatisfied as I am with standard styles of music (again, no offense…), is there any non-Eva suggestion for a special artistic/spiritual experience?—maybe suggested from an Eva Cassidy fanatic who might understand what I mean. (Not contemporary Christian style—I record in that industry—and…well, pass). Something incredibly special, personal, transcending. I tried Diana Krall who sings very well—but, not interested—not on the same creative level, too much in a standard style, sings in a sexy vein (which I liked was not Eva’s intention in my perspective) and not really from a spiritual place. My wife’s Enya CD’s are an improvement.

Where to go from Eva Cassidy…?

Thanks!
montobo

Showing 1 response by edorr

Eva Cassidy is a unique combination of (A) the purity of tone and vocal technique of an R&B diva (think pre-crash Whitney Houston), the (B) song interpretation and phrasing of a Jazz singer (think Patrica Barber), and the (C) emotional sensibility of a chronically depressed singer songwriter (think Tori Amos).

To my knowledge there is no other female vocalist that combines these three qualities. Rachell Ferrell will give you (A) and (B) (try "First Instrument"). Anita Baker will give you (A) and a bit of (B) (try "Rhythm of love"). There are others that will give you two out of three (Joss Stone is a good suggestion, and you may want to give the aforementioned Tori Amos a listen).

A suggestion completely out of left field is Bjork's wildely original one off Jazz outing called "Gling Glo". This album beats Eva Cassidy in the only department she is not a groundbraker - musicalal innovation and orginality.