In this day of singers weaned on Auto-Tune, it’s rare to find a vocalist who not only sounds real, but sounds both relevant and invigorating. Kandace Springs, playing piano and keyboards while delivering music mostly from her most recent album Run Your Race, brought a fresh sound that connected the tradition of jazz singers and thoughtful composers in a 80 minute set that satisfied on a plethora of levels.
Teamed with the simpatico unit of drummer Camille Gainer-Jones and bassist Destiny Diggs (which is a fantastic name for a musician), Springs in both singing and playing a respectful influence of the artists preceding her, with a range like Sarah Vaughan, swing akin to Ella Fitzgerald, depth of Robert Flack and earthiness of Nina Simone, with a dash of Minnie Riperton innocence. As demonstrated during the evening, she could easily get accolades simply for her piano skills, bopping with a California coolness on “Devil May Care”, adding a ‘Round Midnight bluesiness to “So Far, So Near” and giving a Moonlight Sonata’d intro to an R&B’d take of “I Put A Spell On You”.
She could also make it on her expressive vocal skills, vulnerable on a pulsating take of “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and heartfelt but not cloying during “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, with an ease of range that evoked that rare and God given ability of being able to sing as if she were speaking directly to you.
Yet, in the long run, it is the mighty sword of her pen that combines both accessible jazz and thoughtful lyrics that seem like they should be taken up by other vocalists, but who is going to present them as well as Ms. Springs? On keyboards, she’s luminous and inviting on the cozy “ Look” and with the rhythm team joining in, thoughtfully dreamy n “Chasing Shadows”. A tune like “Broken Keys” is heart on sleeves without victimhood, and she sits next to you, cooing on the couch for “Precious Love” and “What Was I Made For”
Both her ideas and presentation are crystal clear and graceful on “Wild Is The Wind”, and her worldview is display all throughout, climaxing in the encouraging “Run Your Race”. Dedicating the evening to her recently departed track running father, Springs won a gold medal on this evenings event.
Upcoming shows at The Sun Rose include Vinicius Cantuaria 04/13, GKO 05/04, Veronica Swift 05/08,15, 22,29