Judy! Judy! Judy!

I had never seen Judy Collins perform before till I saw her opening night at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco.  I was NOT disappointed.  Nor was anyone else.  She started with one of my all time favorites, Both Sides Now , and on my notes I wrote  "Wow."  Power, articulation, clarity, magical high notes-- it was all there.  

Did I say she was 70 and has been performing for 50 years?  Absolutely no sign of age in her voice. (To my music students, I'd like to say:  This is how it's done, my dears.)

A bit of vaudeville in her stories,  witty reminisces about other performers.  Old and new songs, some a cappella, some accompanied by herself on her 12 string with Russell Waldon, her music director and able pianist who treated us to some harmony, and some songs with Judy most ably accompanying herself on piano.   We were invited to sing along and sing we did.  I cried, I laughed, I cried again, and laughed some more.  She sang a soulful song about her mother and another about hunting the whale, then treated us to the songs of our youth. We all sang Where Have All the Flowers Gone  and then Judy asked , "Where are the war protest songs of today?"  In my notes I penned the words "Oh my God!"  What a show.  

After a show interrupted by five standing ovations ( I kept tally) , we did not want to let her go.  Even after her encore, the audience was slow to leave, not wanting the magic to end.  Out in the lobby, we congregated and talked sharing Judy stories with strangers.  And Judy?  She was not behind a table signing albums and books,  but mingling angst us.  More than one shared moments of their lives that had been colored with memories of Judy Collins and/or her music.  To everyone she was the gracious hostess, "Thank-you for sharing."  

I am so sorry you missed it.  Her ten day show at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco was sold out before it opened!    I guess she'll just have to come back soon.  Thank-you, Judy Collins, for a most memorable and magical evening.



Suzanne Birrell