During the 2008 Smooth Jazz Cruise stars emerged in the most unexpected of places. Indeed this is exactly what happened in the M/S Westerdam’s Ocean Bar when session singer extraordinaire Lynne Fiddmont took the stage. Of course Fiddmont is far from simply being a backing musician. Her 2006 solo release ‘Flow’ was an absolute revelation and despite being full of the shimmering soul sophistication that was a hallmark of that melodic accessible music of the eighties there is not one thing about it that is dated. To the contrary, this wonderful collection of jazz infused soul songs for grown ups has struck an immediate chord with fans of vocally driven smooth R & B and, here in the Ocean Bar, they were out in force to show appreciation for one of the most gifted artists around.
For Lynne this move from the shadows to center stage is long overdue. Born in St Louis Missouri her career, now spanning in excess of twenty years, made an auspicious start when she got the gig to back the Crusaders on tour, performing live versions of such staples as ‘Street Life’ and ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away’. Similar assignments followed, first with Bill Withers on his 1985 ‘Watching Me Watching You’ tour, then with Lou Rawls and subsequently with Stevie Wonder where she was background vocalist in his recording / touring group Wonderlove. Now, a long a time resident of Los Angeles, she sings and plays percussion with Norman Browns live band and has recently worked with Phil Collins as part of his ‘First Final Farewell’ tour. As for ‘Flow’ its depth and quality is incredible. In the intimate bar atmosphere, and initially supported only by Arlington Jones on keys and Fred White on vocals, she enthralled her niche audience with choice examples from the CD and a few other gems besides.
With her warmth and humor shining just as brightly as her massive talent she opened the set with the jazzily sophisticated ‘No Regrets’. She first discovered this tune in 1976 on an album from Phoebe Snow and it sits comfortably on Fiddmont’s CD as the only cover alongside eight of her own original compositions. With Eartha Kitt and Billie Holiday impersonations thrown in for good measure she continued with the light but infectious samba infused ‘Holiday’ and, by this time joined by Andre Berry on bass and Dave Hooper on drums, rolled into the title track which, doing what its names suggests, allowed her vocals to ‘flow’ deliciously atop a compelling languid beat.
Fiddmont also found space for an excellent interpretation of the Stevie Wonder composition ‘All I Do (Is Think About You)’ that was a hit for Brenda Holloway as far back as 1966. It gave Fred White (who incidentally wrote the title track of the latest Diana Ross CD ‘I Love You’ and who has toured extensively with Rod Stewart) the chance to shine on background vocals and to set up Fiddmont’s closing number, her delightful rendition of another cut from ‘Flow’, the superb ‘U R Loved’. She originally recorded this song in 1991 with her former husband Wayne Linsey while part of the duo Linsey. Taken from their album ‘Perfect Love’, it proved to be a quiet storm classic and here provided a fitting end to a show that exuded class throughout.
Lynne Fiddmont is all set to release her follow up to ‘Flow’ on her own Midlife Records label in the spring of 2008. It will certainly be one to watch so for all the latest news go to www.lynnefiddmont.com
Check back here often for more snippets from the 2008 Smooth Jazz Cruise.