Nothing like her. My wife and I became fans in 1974 after we heard her on KJAZ-FM in Alameda (sadly, gone almost 30 years now). We were newly married and living in San Francisco. When Blossom did a gig at a club in S.F. we went and were totally mesmerized. Her pal Bob Dorough played the opening set, and he was marvelous, too. For the transition, Dorough started singing, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and she came on stage and joined in the duet. A sweet memory, bittersweet since my wife died a year ago, but sweet nonetheless.
I remember KJAZZ too (lived in the City from 1977 to 2018) and saw her at Great American Music Hall and once with my folks in Chicago. She was wonderful
People should understand two things: 1. Blossom Dearie was UNIQUE - she was a big star on the international jazz and cabaret festival scene, and there was literally nobody like her. Fiercely intelligent, funny, ironic, a gifted musician and loved wherever she went. Secondly, the camera phone had not been invented back in the 1980s or the 90s, the person taking her photograph was using a full camera rig with a large flash gun - that's all there was back them. This was a large concert venue and 'cameras were forbidden' - because in those days, if you wanted a photo for a magazine assignment, you went to 'The Press Call' where there was just you and the artist. The actual performance was far more 'meaningful' than it is today. you may notice that almost everyone in the audience is wearing 'formal dress' - the men are in evening suits, the women in dresses - it was a gala occasion. So taking a press photo was just 'rude' - breaking up the performance. She just told the guy: "cameras are not allowed in here" - she was asserting the stage as her 'sacred space'. That's the way it was when we had real artists, rather than pop stars..
Clancy Coburn you've GOT to be kidding! She was of anyone that was more classy than the Kardashians that you're used to I guess. They're of my time but I DARE not refer to them as having class. Blossom is what class is and will always be. They could take a lesson
The rude thing is NOT being able to see performances like this anymore because of rude people that talk, play with their phones and do almost anything BUT enjoy the performance. I do miss a good evening in a nice club.
as a live performance photographer back in the 80's , there was no need for a flash during concerts , that I agree would spoil the mood for most people . Most Jazz artist were happy to have their photos taken on stage, but some female performers were more concerned that they may not look great , this applies for most female performers.
Oh, anyone who's ever seen Blossom perform in a club has at one time or another witnessed her stern lectures to the audience. Don't mess with Miss Blossom, is all that she means to tell us.
Of all piano vocalists, Blossom is by far my favourite. Her singing is amazing - every note bang in tune and she always tells a story - you hear every word. Every song is about the music and the words - never about Blossom Dearie. She is a true artist, conveying art, not her personality. Now we come to her piano playing. Instinctively, she always gets it right - never too much or too little. A very gifted player, she never falls to the temptation of playing in a florid way. Musical genius.
As a real musician... I am blown away by her skill. Independent rhythm between her voice scats and her hands playing the piano. And do you hear these amazing chords and riffs 🎶. Omg!!! True musical talent.
I'm going to unpack my adjectives about this amazing lady - incredibly genuine, talented, beautiful, and intelligent, and the list goes on and on, like an 8 placed on its side, a symbol of infinity. How I wish there were artists - and in general, people - like her today.
you start entering the world of Blossom Dearie...and you ask yourself "Where have I been all those years not knowing her?"....but in return you get a double gift, because apart from getting acquainted with an absolutely unique jazz artist you learn about Dave Frishberg, too. I think there is no-one who can bring out the sense of humour in his song-writing as well as Blossom did.
I remember the Time when Miss "Blossom Dearie" played at Ronnie Scotts in London. She always wore white, the piano was white. The Club was always packed. She was well received in London. Thanks for downloading .
Actually at the time you would have been surprised someone was rude enough to bring a camera to a show. The upside was we actually saw the performances as we weren't busy taking selfies and posting "Look at me at the cool concert" to social media.
@@mikegalvin9801 also if it was an old fashioned flash going off you can see why its so disturbing for the performers She could have been a bit nicer about it though!
@@grai I once saw Mary Travers (performing solo sans Peter and Paul) at Tulagis in Boulder mid 70s. She literally stopped mid song, walked into the audience and seized a camera from some schmuck. "See me after the show. You better hope it goes well as if I'm in a good mood I just might give it back." In fairness she also said "If you'd asked nicely if at the door I would have posed and signed your program too." I also remember my friend Wendy whispering something like "I bet she just went up about 50% of hotness for all you boys." "Uh. Absolutely. Discipline me please!"
I was so very sorry to hear of the passing away of the glorious Blossom. She was/is a true jazz original. An underated jazz pianist, her singing style was unique. An unforgetteable performer. An unforgetteable woman.
I present to you the voice of "Schoolhouse Rock "Figure 8". Funny how the voice of this person is so etched in my childhood memories but I knew absolutely nothing about her. At least until after her death. Unique talent this one. R.I.P. Blossom...this kid from Cleveland remembers.
This is exactly how it went with me. This song of hers popped up in my Spotify randomized station and I immediately wondered if she sang Figure 8, which is also etched in my brain. So I had to look her up and learn about her!
I still love here, the love attitude about "no camera" is totally appropriate. Bought her a red wine and talked at her bar where she performed before. the story is tooo goood to be told... I think she is sooo cool.
In 1971 I attended a Dearie performance at some little smokey mirrored boite on NY’s Upper East Side. Her new album on Fontana, That's Just the Way I Want it To Be, had just been released. Even though the recording strayed away from the singer-pianist's usual jazzmatazz and was a little on the pop-ish side, still I adored it. After the show, I approached her: "I love your new album," I told her. "Well, I hate it," she said peremptorily, brushed me aside and flounced off. --- Shared Air (amazon)
I went to see her at Ronnie Scotts in London. Before the show I got talking to a guy at the bar and mentioned that I was a great fan of hers and had travelled up from Somerset to see her perform. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that he was the late Jeff Clyne, her Bass player for the show. He said "Come up and see me stage side after the show and I will introduce you. " This I did and Blossom was just enchanting, immediately dipping into her bag, bringing out a cassette, signing it and giving it me. I must add this impression was not that of a star struck fan - because at the time I was also hosting my own celebrity chat show on the radio and had seen the good and the bad stars coming in and out of my studio.
Can you imagine how distracting it would be to perform live on stage with a person shooting pics? She is remarkably composed and performed perfectly *after* having to deal with that -- what a pro.
I can't believe it's been 10 years since Blossom's passing away. Enjoyed her many visits to Los Angeles California. I was also very lucky to have her as a business associate.
OMG! Your comment just made me realize she is singing the one for Adjectives!!! I'm almost in tears now. I always loved that short and the voice. So happy to know it was her!!!
People who take videos/photos are definitely not truly present with their 5 senses at a performance. More like: I'll watch this later and absorb it when I'm not involved with my device. I guess it's great for youtube viewers (thankyou!) yet not respecting the live art which is 100% coming at them in this one amazing moment.
Face it. Some (quite a few actually) "fans" are jerks. It is rude to both the performer and those in the audience who have to put up with the jerk with the camera.
I remember the days when there would be signs "No flash photography". The flashes back then were super bright (and only single use, you replaced them each picture you took).
I went to a performance of hers back in about 1984. She corrected someone in the audience for doing something. She didn't allow any service during the show. She had guts and stood up for herself. Before the show, I made the mistake of tipping the waitress $5 to deliver a song request to her. The waitress thought I was sending the $5 tip to Ms Dearie, who of course refused. Blossom Dearie never took song requests. I didn't know that. The waitress returned the $5 to a baffled and embarrassed me. After the show she signed albums and was perfectly nice. Lucky for me she didn't know that I was the guy who sent the song request.
yeah - its a great rendition - she's so skilled with such a light subtle style notice that the crowd sat in silence tho! and all the other versions I've heard of this they laugh all the way through - I think the audience were as shocked as we were!
@tregibbs for one thing it can put a performer off when there are flashes going. they also dont want crappy pics of them going out unapproved. nowadays with camera phones there is no control
Luka Lemander good for her. Nowadays rudeness is the norm with everyone thinking they have to be allowed to do whatever they want, no matter the effect it has on others. You don’t want to be chastised? Show some respect
@@1122redbird Strange to think of it this way because life did in fact move slower and etiquette mattered, yet jazz was literally the breaker of barriers of etiquette and conservatism and the catalyst for speeding up what was seen as an archaic and rigid way of thinking... at one point at least
I never heard Blossom before youtube. She blew me away instantly. Shes really unique. I another vid i hear a talking, she is a bit older in that and you can hear it too. She second she starts singing she has that same voice she always had. You might say It Amazes Me :P And there I like she so much often honors the song authors too. Hey, browse for Claudine Longet. Try find "Nothing to losse" (which is a contradiction, because than you can't find it, haha!) Claudie soft too but VERY different.
She made it very clear, that no picture taking was allowed when she performed. She concentrated on what she was doing, and no doubt found it distracting when people would talk or take pictures. Plus the audience could enjoy the performance without distraction. She had a wonderful, tiny voice, and every nuance, could be appreciated if people would not talk, during her performances. She wasnt banging on a guitar or drums, but playing intimately, even when in a large hall.
What a talent! To be able to play the piano like that OR sing so well is enough, let alone both. Not too many can do that. Nat King Cole, Diana Krall come to mind. Btw, when she recorded it earlier, "Bobby Darin" instead of "Sammy Davis" knew her friend.
It's the "no pictures are allowed in here". When we saw her in NYC much later a guy put his foot on the stage and she was NOT having that either, made him remove it.
I could listen to this song over and over, loving it... Such cool jazz. And I think of sijild every time - I know she prolly enjoys it as well - in the same/similar way. I could just snap my fingers to the beat of this song...Wow-yes. - and look into her eyes - My Rose, sijild. "Maybe we are" indeed.
EVERY single TIME I listen. to-this-music - to BD singing... playing... wow - I am just speechless. I think if I were teaching composition- BD's music would be one of my staples - I'd add it in constantly to my study-lessons, etc. That, and Percy Aldridge Grainger - I know, different, but... still Jazz, and lucid regarding harmonization.
@scatmando -- You're right. What bummed me out about it was that I only really knew her from "Schoolhouse Rock" and had never thought to look her up and see if there were videos of her performing (I had actually assumed she was black until I saw this video of her). So this video was my introduction to Blossom Dearie. Great! LOL :) So I'm glad you wrote; I'll try not to judge her on this video alone!
@ColumbiaPerna ∽∽ Yeah, of course, no one applauded 'cause she lost her audience after she said only "no pictures are allowed in here." LOLZ ;) ∽∽ Bravo, Blossom! You're indeed one of the hippest cats around.
What these righteous free loaders don't understand is that the guy was probably using a flashbulb, which could blind her as well as disturbing everyone in the audience. I saw a performer when a guy in the front row took a flash picture. He didn't change character. "Please,don't do that again friend, I could have fallen, ya' see." The actor was playing Will Rogers. The performer as rights along the whole audience to not be disturbed.
@@DanielCalvilloJr it's automatically posted as a reply! I forgot all about it Nice to see the clip again though! She was a huge jazz hero of mine until I saw this and I thought god what a bitch I've forgotten about it since then and love her again She's just irresistible ❤️
For those making comments...I hope you understand this song was sarcasm. She is actually making fun of a "hipster" I think most get it...but some making the comments clearly do not. She had all sorts of songs like this...fun and light. And that voice was mesmerizing.
Bill Reed put it this way..."To say she is "difficult" is like saying Catherine Deneuve is French." Google his "Tales of Tiny Terror" for the inside story on the real Blossom.
juat played this to my son - 17 (super hip) - and he was laughing his a... off. Asked me: So you had this problem too? my answer: my guess - 2000 year old prob.. rhough not prob but just situation... :-)
I went into the Village Vanguard with my Lieca swinging from my neck. Ms.Gordon (the owner) WARNED ME not to take any pictures. I told her not to worry..I understood the policy. The performers don't like it. Jazz is not easy. It LOOKS like show business but its not really. It's an Art-form. Thats why so many go hungry. You don't hear their music on memorial day or july 4th gatherings or inaugurations etc.. Their just stuck with their role of NEEDING to fashion truth out of life around them/us.
you guys are going crazy because she said no pictures are allowed in here? damn.. well it doesnt really affect how much i like her music. so you all can keep having fits just b/c she didnt want her picture taken
