My reaction: “Oh no.”
Two amazing women died today: Gloria Steinem and Cassandra Wilson. I’m sure you know who Ms. Steinem was, but did you remember that she was one of the founders of New York Magazine? Do you remember when she went “undercover” as a Playboy Bunny? Have you read any of her memoirs? I highly recommend them.
You may not know so much about Ms. Wilson. She was an astounding jazz musician. I have several of her CDs, especially Blue Skies, released in 1988. With crisp acoustic backing — Mulgrew Miller on piano, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, Terri Lyne Carrington on drums — Wilson finessed standards like “I’m Old Fashioned” and “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” in a style reminiscent of Betty Carter. Billboard named it jazz album of the year. If you’ve never heard it, check it out. She gives new life to old standards, even the Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville”.
I salute these two amazing women and encourage you to check out their work: it is phenomenal.
