
Minutes into Cassandra Wilson's free open air set Friday, Wilson, who'd already kicked her sandals off, announced she would be playing it loose. Supported by an impressive backing band--Cyrus Chestnut (who favors Randy Jackson and Stanley Crouch) on keys, Marvin Sewell on guitar, Reginald Veal on Bass, Herlin Riley on drums and Lekan Babalola on percussion--stretching out made sense. But when Wilson launched into her next song Chestnut was stumped. Wilson continued acapella, snapped the time to Riley and Chestnut eventually improvised his way in. Set list free, Wilson proceeded by launching into whatever struck her as appropriate and acquiescing to the shouted requests of fans packed into Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, my crew included. We leaned towards selections from 1996's New Moon Daughter. The middle aged couple who shared Raw Soul apricot cookies with me pleaded for "Solomon Sang," my friend Iquo requested "Until" where if memory serves correct my newfound cousin Kia made a loud case for "Death Letter." Voices divided we didn't make much of a case for any of them and Wilson capably tackled other selections from her deep discography. "Easy Rider" from Thunderbird, "Time after Time" from Traveling Miles and "You Move Me" from the Love Jones: The Music. The whole concert as request line reminded us all of how many wonderful songs Wilson's recorded, originals and covers. No better time than now to spotlight a few of my favorite Wilson songs, MP3's included:
+"You Move Me", Love Jones: The Music (1997)
Sacrosanct on just the strength of Lauryn Hill's "Sweetest Thing", me'shell ndegéocello's "Rush Over" and Wilson's "You Move Me"--song about sex that's not corny or crass--made the Love Jones soundtrack an excellent compilation. Wilson's sultriness is anything but contrived and always compelling.
+"Until" and "Find Him", New Moon Daughter (1996)
This is my favorite album from Wilson and these are my two favorite songs from it. Both tackle love and longing but where "Until" is somber, "Find Him" is sanguine.
"One Shine", Illadelph Halflife, The Roots (1996)
Cassandra Wilson is just one patchwork in this Roots-curated sonic quilt but a prominent one. This is really just a groove but a great one.