Cécile McLorin Salvant’s music is an act of defiant traditionalism, recreating and rearranging early 20th-century standards into her own style of blues and show tune-inflected jazz. Her updated versions of classic songs are never set in stone, but constantly changing to her whims and that of the musicians in her band. It’s a process of trial and error, of a contrast between an evolving stage show and a static recording for the archives.
Cécile McLorin Salvant graced Campbell Hall’s stage Thursday, April 27, for the final installment of UCSB’s Arts & Lectures’ series of jazz concerts for the 2015-2016 season. Her band consisted of vivacious pianist Sullivan Fortner, wisecracking stand up bassist Paul Sikivie, and the tumbling drums of Lawrence Leathers. Together, the group’s infectious warmth permeated the lofty atmosphere of the plus-sized lecture space.
Many of McLorin Salvant’s covers were originally sung by Bessie Smith, one of the most prominent jazz singers of the 20th century, who was even nicknamed “The Empress of the Blues.” She remains a substantial influence on jazz singers to this day. McLorin Salvant’s rendition of Smith’s “Outside of That,” a sarcastic testimonial of a woman stuck in a cycle of abuse, whose constant forgiveness of her lover’s violent slights, including “knocking out both of my teeth,” ventures into ridiculousness, was especially poignant. At times, when she described his transgressions, her voice would expand into a deep, Etta James-like operatic roar, belting, “I don’t want you no more/And when I said that, I made sweet papa so sore,” before quietening into a sweet, docile tone for, “Outside of that/He’s alright with me.” The chorus never failed to elicit laughs from the audience.