You know someone has a song in her heart when she even makes melody during the introduction of her musicians! That’s Abbey Lincoln, and she’s in vintage form here at the Keystone Korner in 1980. Her team of Phil Wright/p, James Leary-Art Washington/b and Doug Sides/dr are both flexible and in the pocket, just right for this kind of vocalist who can take you to the church hall or street corner in seconds flat.
Her rich voice swings with Ted Williams’ fluidity on “Talkin’ To The Sun,” and her vibrato is gorgeously supple on the reflective “Rainbow.” Confident in any setting, she rich and strong with Wright’s piano during a duet of “Little Girl Blue,” and then turns right around and arm wrestle Sides as she does a field holler on “Driva Man.” Wright taps into his inner Tyner as Lincoln goes modal on”Africa” and she gest soulful on her gospel classic “Throw It Away.” The sound quality is acceptable; the music quality is essential.
High Note Records