Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Devil's Music: Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do
Angelo Parra's The Devil's Music: The Life and Music of Bessie Smith, with musical staging by Joe Brancato, playing at St. Luke's Theater, is a daunting work for a playwright to create. Treading a fine line between musical tribute/showcase and musical theater, with many of Ms. Smith's songs at the heart of it all, this is one of those works that will utterly rise or fall on the performer. As the croweded audience on Monday night showed, however, Miche Braden, is a dream come true, as she leads her trio (Jim Hankins, bass, Aaron Graves, piano, and, at the show we attended, Anthony E. Nelson, Jr., saxophone), and the audience through the life, and songs and times of the "Empress of the Blues." Telling stories, engaging and playing with the audience, and singing the blues with a passion, warmth and fire, that is sure to stir and leave you with a sense that, yes, this is Bessie Smith. A wonderful and memorable show.
St. Luke's Theater website here