Eva Cassidy - Nightbird 

My parents would have been 77 this year. Eva was played in our home. They taught my twin brother and me how to jitterbug to her cheek to cheek ❤️🙏🏼

I’m 66 years old now and I’m Hypnotized by her voice and songs I’m 68 Years Old Now and still Blowen Away By You Eva Bless Your Angelic Soul Amen 🙏

The More I Listen to her sing 🎶 the More I’m Blown Away 👼

Amen..🙏

Amen. so glad have the ability to watch this concert weekly. Amazing best female vocal talent imo

So agree

Smiles, hello Jane 🌺 😊

Smiles, so so beautiful Rebecca, feels really great listening, how are you doing? 🌺 😊

+Gabriel Feitosa - I highly recommend you get the NIGHTBIRD 2 CD set (if you a have a PAL compatible DVD player, get the UK version which includes videos of 12 of the songs). It is well worth the purchase price. Even though it was all recorded in one night, it includes most of the important songs in Eva's career. And, the quality is better than RU-vid and MP3 downloads. You will listen to it again and again. Enjoy the music, Ted

This performance took place in 1996. Yeah, it's been a while.

I'm with you Rachel.

We listen to Eva all the year round and have done for years...glad you have found this amazing woman...

Where else would you go....just listen to some honesty...Eva will always bring you to truth..

Always listen to Eva or Willie Nelson when a need some comfort...not his country stuff but the ballads..

GREAT CHOICE !!! I'M THERE WITH YA !!! STAY SAFE :)

Wow. Just wow.

She has a way of making every song her own.

Bob Crunch My God she can move ,one...

Thank you.

Harvey Bobb Fly, baby girl baby!

My understanding is that the three are Eva Cassidy, Karen Carpenter and Judith Durham. And I totally agree with him.

I wholeheartedly agree! Over the Rainbow does it for me every time!

@@MarkJohnson-zy4fd Don't forget Patsy Mark

@@MarkJohnson-zy4fd Elton was a big fan of Dusty Springfield also.

@@MarkJohnson-zy4fd and Ann Murray, not to mention Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin who surpass everyone, albeit in a somewhat different style. Just my 2 cents.

Thank you.

Like this morning.

Great way to look at it. We all would like to leave a mark, but most are quickly forgotten. 24 years later I am enjoying her music. Wish I had found her sooner when she was alive. Typical artist that is more famous after gone, and she was a real artist.

Ian Burry Greatest comment to a video I have ever read. God bless.

Don't be sad at her passing, rejoice that she lived.

Jeff Jones Only Aretha Franklin is on the same level. She has always been the singer I considered the very best in my lifetime - until I heard this incredible singer, Eva Cassidy, in 1998. Aretha’s still the top of my singer’s totem pole, but Eva is on the same rung, no question. It is amazing to hear.

Absolutely! She even blew Judy Garland away with her version of "Over the Rainbow"!

@@larrypower8659 Aretha is amazing but lacks the tenderness, and thus the chill-evoking quality, for me at least. The first time I heard Eva it summoned Robert Flack's The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, that pure, unadorned, ethereal delivery of a vocal. That song undoubted influenced Eva's development.

@larry nash. Eva’s “Rainbow” is the best version ever, imho. Brings tears to my eyes every time. In fact, I can’t watch it that often because I get too emotionally involved. Truly amazing.

@quarter_moon and_a_guitar. The difference may be, Aretha sang more with the verve and energy of her personality and outlook on life. I’ve always felt Eva did the same thing but with that said, Eva’s outlook and personality seemed to be quite different from Aretha’s. The Queen of Soul was brash, supremely talented, and she knew what she wanted. Eva didn’t seem to want much of anything from her music, much less her career. Her singing seemed to come from a place of melancholy. You can always hear that touch of sadness in everything. It’s really that blue feeling we all get but Eva seemed to have it in spades. In music, we all play or sing who we are; it’s one the eternal truths of Art. Both of these fantastic ladies sang and played WHO they were. In Aretha’s catalog there are many instances of downright sad- ness and vulnerability, but that is certainly not what she was known for, nor did she want to be portrayed as such. Aretha experienced the prejudice of racism and misogyny (hope I spelled that right). She fought to rise above it, which is revealed in her music. Eva, I think, just wanted to BE. She showed who she was through her music and that was enough for her. It’s really kind of existential, not that either of them considered themselves “existentialist.” Lau Tzu, the Chinese philosopher, wrote that, “The way to do is to be, and the way to be is to do.” We love both of these fantastic women of song. They WERE, and that’s all they needed to BE ... Stay safe and take good care, Mister 1/4 Moon.

RIP? no. . . . . i just discovered her

@Christopher Ross 😢

Only one better, ARETHA FRANKLIN.

In my top 5 of all time, Eva, Lara fabian, shelby lynne, caitlyn smith and rosetta tharpe. Can't put them into any order.

@@kennethgustjr.2798 Aretha had that same humility, as well. Would have done a duet with her in a heartbeat. Wouldn’t that have been Something? The Queen and The Songbird. Rip, ladies. 🙏🏾🕊♥️😢

I think you meant THE greatest.

+Alison Chapman: Y.E.S.

I'm with Wes....YES!!!!

@@Mark.H.9192 And she was sick with a head cold. She cried at the thought of releasing this album (live at Blues alley). She's has high standards I'd say. :)

Yes:)

Alison Chapman did you ever met her

She didn’t want that.

She knows :) And we will ALL get to meet her someday!!

💔

She opted out of fame and turned down a lot of offers. She valued her private life and her ability to sing her favorite songs in her way regardless of genre. The big time music business pigeon holes people.

@@RossM3838 fair play to her, it does show, there’s a real sincerity about all of her work that I’ve heard.

Welcome friend; I felt the same.

well said. i feel the same. thank you.

She had a voice that could soothe every nerve in your body. Gone way too soon

Tim Glover same

Better late than never!!

Smiles, hello Kathryn 🌺 😊

@@georgemelvin7187 think i have all her CDs now. A voice for the ages❤

@@kathryn9930 yeah yeah, feels really great listening indeed, how are you doing?

Totally agree..she gets me very emotional and the songs she sings also give me hope.

You, and everyone else who knows EVA....RIP Sweet Songbird

Same bro. Same You can’t turn the water works off when she starts to sing. Not many singers grab your heart instantly like she always does.

If you haven't heard it yet, check out Blues in the Night!

Yes, I think it's the best.

So do I! I love 💕 this song and Eva!!!

So do I...absolute class...

This is the BEST!!!

My #1

She's a angel

Well …. Welcome to real classic music….from an old soul full of grace… No Diva …. Just Eva….♥️ Singing from her heart ♥️ Gone to soon…💔

It’s so heartbreaking that most of us discovered her after she passed.

If you haven't heard it yet, check out Eva's Blues in the Night!

@@ratroute8238 I just found her tonight, wow 😳

She's one of greatest ever I loved all her music and eric clapton together what a great duo

Neil Booth I agree. Immaculate is the right word so far as my heart can tell. In music or elsewhere she is the only person that brings on goosebumps and tears whenever I hear her. She something else, a phenomenon, everyone of us that's affected by her knows it.

Neil Booth I agree. Immaculate is the right word so far as my heart can tell. In music or elsewhere she is the only person that brings on goosebumps and tears whenever I hear her. She something else, a phenomenon, everyone of us that's affected by her knows it.

Neil Booth I discovered her today.

I'm right behind you - just found out about Eva tonight! Immaculate and liquid gold are both perfect, with a lot of packed emotion in every note she sings. It's hard to get enough ....

how can any female vocalist top this angelic voice.

Amen!!

I was listening. First rate!

His name is Keith Grimes... damn fine playing

@@laylahofficial Agree 👍

Smiles, hello Mary 🌺 😊

Sorry to hear about your mum and your English is perfect

Erik Höggren

People who care to read, will understand each and every word. They read with the heart......

Sorry, never a good time to lose your mum.

Sorry for your loss. Your Mom must have been super special. She got to hear Eva while she was still with you. Now she gets to hear her All The Time. What a Blessing.🙏🏾🕊♥️

Amen

I can plan to listen to a song or two of Eva's songs, and easily end up listening to more and more and hours have gone by. Breath taking, often find myself with welling tears not of grief but of awe and being touched by her heart filled songs.

@@victoriakirchner4371 Yes that exactly what happens when I listen to Eva, one angelic voice RIP Angel

I am but why is that information important to you? :/

Me, in Argentina!!

Rochester , NY

Amen! Albania.

Aye Matig-a we have been listening to this beauty for years...never gets old.

Kiitos!

Thank you man

This song brings tears to my eyes , " MAW " SEEM

This song brings tears to my eyes ,has to be about my ex of 30 years "MAW " STILL LOVE HER TOO !God do i miss her .⚘❤💔🙏

People get ready JESUS THE CHRIST is coming soon, Please as you can read Acts 2:38

Smiles, hello Diane 🌺

we was havin' such a nice moment didja' really have to drag politics into this? R.I.P. Eva Cassidy

Brenda Jackson: I got you ... a nice christmas season and a Happy New Year as well as beautiful music along all the way to you.

AGREE!!!! EVA ANGEL WENT HOME! THANK YOU EVA.

wow! me too! and i actually got to sing song with her! we did WILD HORSES together one night but she just blew me away so just did harmony on higher regisiter! it was so cool! and she was just one of the guys always! it was amazing to me because i could see her genius but she was so humble grateful for what it was we had then--back then we could have Emily lou Harris or Bonnie Raitt for instance but Eva kicked them all out of the box--one night at the Childe Harold bar at DuPont Circle emily lou did her set and Springsteen was there and Eva just picked up the guitar and blew everyone away! what fun! but sad today cause shes gone

@@douglasfarrow8109 Was any of this recorded?

Even more, he wrote the song about his life. He was the young man taken in by the Nightbird. Yet, now, when asked to play it, he tells them that's Eva's song now.

Who is the man that wrote it? What a treat their paths crossed! A great heart can share with others.. ✨

@@moniquemannaert3468 Doug MacLeod ... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_MacLeod_(musician)

Interview with the writer of the song, Doug Macleod: Alan: Your songs have been recorded by many artists, so which are your favourite interpretations? Doug: I have a couple of favourites. One was Eva Cassidy’s version of Nightbird. That song is about a prostitute, a prostitute that I used to live with who really watched out for me. I have no idea if Eva Cassidy knew what that song was about and I never heard it until my wife played it for me during a drive to Los Angeles from San Luis Opisbo. I’m a huge baseball fan and my team, the Cardinals from St Louis, were playing the Dodgers and I wanted to listen to the game. My wife said “I got something for you to hear”, and I said, “But the Cardinals are on” and she said “This is more important than the Cardinals” and she put this CD on of Eva Cassidy. I tell you, it moved me so much, I pulled over to the side of the road and I was weeping. I have never done that song again. When people ask me to do Nightbird, I tell them that if they want to hear THE version, she is the one to listen to. And then of course she died before I got a chance to meet her to ask her how she interpreted it like that. The other song of mine that I think was a great version was Albert Collins doing Working Man Blues. It’s on his Cold Snap album and I think he just nailed it.

I have been a fan for yrs. Thanks to FB. I am always going back to her music. She was so special. Had a unique natural gift

I’ve turned many loved ones onto Eva ❤

We All were.🥺💔🕊

Smiles, so so amazing Carolyn, feels really great listening, how are you doing? 🌺

Une pure merveille Merci Eva Tu me berce tu as bercé mon chéri avant qu'il ne rejoigne son père céleste J'espère qu'il te rencontre... Comme j'espère aussi le faire au moment voulu Pas de tristesse Juste un excellent partage Là où tu es

I agree with Elton John that the three greatest female singers are Eva Cassidy, Karen Carpenter and Judith Durham. Each is special; each is entirely captivating.

@@MarkJohnson-zy4fd Me and you think alike Mark Karen was my first pick until Eva came alone then Patsy was no. 3

Condolences.🥺 Now our Songbird can sing to him All The Time.🕊

+454something - I never thought I would ever hear another album that would have been better than those that had previously been released. But, "Nightbird" the complete Blues Alley is exactly that. My music distributor & Amazon both sold out within a week of the release. That's how good this 2 CD set is.

@@theolamp5312 Hold tight to her Blues Alley cds. Although they booked a lot of nationally and internationally known acts; they loved to showcase local talent, and did so as much as possible. Needless to say, Eva was Always at the top of their list for bookings (and she Always Delivered). I heard a couple of months ago that after 56 years, they were in danger of closing; unable to “ride out” the Pandemic. (They are a comparatively small Supper Club, perfect for the shy and humble Eva.) If they don’t make it, you will be in possession of a “Double Treasure.” I’m hopeful and Jealous at the same time!🤞🏾😓🤷🏽‍♀️

@@joiisler3012 - Thanks for your comment. but I have to add that even though Eva was shy and humble, she was also strong and non-compromising. She was only willing to sing the songs that meant something to her. Aside from her incredible voice, she could have had success as an arranger. It's a skill often not noticed by casual music fans. And yes Blues Alley has a great legacy having hosted so may great Jazz & Blues musicians over the years. I'm thinking that they were more about the music than the money. I truly hope they survive. Best wishes, Ted

@@theolamp5312 Very true. When I said she was shy and humble, I meant On Stage Only. When attempting to negotiate a record contract, she refused to compromise her musical vision and integrity. Monetary gain was not her goal. Being Eva and Performing Eva (and All her talents) was her only goal. There was one record exec to whom she displayed her determination and grit. He later heard her music (on a UK radio station, I believe); and when he found out she was dying, he was so remorseful that he let get away without by signing her, he sent her a letter of apology. Even the leader of Fleetwood Mac admired her talents. Yep… that Songbird was One Class Act.👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🕊♥️ (Btw, I hail from the same County in MD as she. Too bad some of that talent wasn’t in the Water supply!😂🤦🏾‍♀️) Oh, and Be Blessed to you as well, too.🙏🏾

@@joiisler3012 I guess you have figured out that I'm a huge Eva fan. I hope you don't mind me offering a bit more info. The record executive was Bruce Lundvull from Blue Note. He called her later and apologized for not signing her. Eva said we had a good relationship when talking to him. And that was when Eva was dying. I can't be objective in this. It still hurts.

Truly the songbird....

Corina Taylor nice way to describe Eva.It is unexplainable ,I have tried :)

Same here. First time to listen to her singing this song. Amazing

First time I heard the live album, she changed my life.... Too short a life.....

I am certain she is in Heaven and no longer in pain from the terminal cancer that took her from us much too soon. She was also an artist; I'm sure you can find some of her work online. Multitalented.....beautiful soul!

@@mstyblu2 You probably know this by now; but a couple of DJ’s in the UK (she was Very popular there) and Australia convinced her family to let them respectfully market her music. I think there are about 12 albums. I think if you Subscribe on uTube, or Google, you’ll be able to get ahold of some, if not or all, of her albums. Enjoy!🕊♥️

I listen to her when I take my furbabies for a ride and they just are so relaxed. They fall asleep

Amen she is one of a kind!

Smiles, hi Tara 🌺 😊

Ron Strauss For me it was listening to her for the first few times, then sadly finding out she was gone. So I was sold from the start. But there is a melancholy I feel when I listen to her, knowing she is gone. She was a rare gem of a talent.

Agree that there is something going on. She is soooooo seductive; pulls me into every word and phrase. I have heard only one unintentional sound in hours of listening. She has thought about everything before she does it, either that or her performance springs directly from her soul. In any event, it is unique and totally, totally authentic. And overpowering.

She had perfect pitch and a happiness for life and music. I cry when I listen to her songs. I wish she had known how she touched many thousands of people with her abilities, her heart. She was like no other.