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| Vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant |
The three-time Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant embodies a distinctive stage presence that quickly draws you in and captivates you from the start of her performance to the encore. At her University Musical Society concert Friday evening at Hill Auditorium, her presence was powerful, and her voice bedazzling. She could've easily pulled off the 90-minute concert solo. Still, a phenomenal supporting cast, drummer Keita Ogawa, guitarist Marvin Sewell, flutist Alexa Tarantino, bassist Emma Dayhuff, and pianist Sullivan Fortner accompanied her. Salvant offered an eclectic setlist comprised of originals from her current album "Melusine" and favorites from the late German composer Kurt Weill. Although the set wasn't theme-driven, listening to Salvant sing "Thunder Cloud," "Reason to Believe," and the kinetic and sometimes joyful exchange with her bandmates on "Is This How Men Live" and "I Got Life" from the musical "Hair" was an utter joy. It's worth noting Salvant and Fortner have a soulmate type of camaraderie apparent throughout the concert. Their musical psyches are conjoined, and with Fortner steering the band, Salvant seems more playful and freer. At various moments during the set, she sang near the edge of the stage, her voice blanketing the audience like snowflakes. And when she sang a love song, the audience was so quiet and focused you could hear an ant crying. There're many high moments, such as Salvant's duet with Sewell and Dayhuff's only solo, where she moonwalked the bass, but the encore was the most memorable. Salvant sang while holding a bouquet presented to her by an audience member, and each musician offered the audience crisp improvised solos as parting gifts.
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