by Betsyann Faiella
The incredible and timeless Judy Collins celebrated her 85th birthday at The Town Hall on Saturday, March 8th with a group of pals and colleagues that spanned the six decades of her career. Since I don’t think it’s fair to review what was essentially a tribute and a party, I’ll just comment that it was a gorgeous lovefest for a supremely talented and generous performer, even if everything didn’t go exactly as planned (late in the evening).
Collins opened (in one of several gorgeous ensembles she wore during the nearly three-hour show) with songs from her resplendent and varied repertoire: “Mountain Girl” (Judy Collins and Jonas Fjeld), “Masters of War” (Bob Dylan and Jean Ritchie), “John Riley” (a traditional English folk song) and “Both Sides Now” (Joni Mitchell).
Collins gave a start to many composers who were just beginning to show themselves, so her repertoire is full of music from others, as well as her own compositions. The audience was treated to her social commentary songs and her timeless folk-rock songs and ballads.
Her soaring high notes and beautiful storytelling and phrasing were truly awe-inspiring, and, in fact, Rickie Lee Jones mentioned, shaking her head in disbelief, Collins’ phenomenal ability to reach and sustain high notes at the age of 85.
Along with the guests who showed up in the flesh, there were remembrances of many others including Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, whose song “Suzanne” was recorded by Collins for her album, In My Life, in 1966. She told the story of meeting the late Cohen, at the time a novelist and nerdy poet who lacked confidence and said he wasn’t sure he was a songwriter, then played her “Suzanne.” The rest is history, as they say.
The prolific Collins is well known for her stories and saucy humor and she did not disappoint, surprising her duet and recent writing partner Ari Hest by revealing she’d had an affair with someone he’d just mentioned, just as matter of fact as if she’d said, “he was such a nice guy. ”
Collins, who was a student of classical piano from a very young age, took to the keys and performed “The Blizzard,” an absorbing story song about a stranger, a Colorado night and getting stuck in a storm. It was her only time at the piano during the evening, leaving that up to Russell Walden, except for the moment when Stephen Schwartz came on stage to accompany – and duet with her – on “Over The Rainbow” (Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg). You make a lot of fabulous and varied friends through the years when you’re brilliant.
Justin Vivian Bond performed a compelling version of “Marat Sade,” (Judy Collins) and was followed by the extraordinary Martha Redbone singing “Dreamers” (Judy Collins), acapella.
Paula Cole magically reinvented “My Father” (Judy Collins) – as if it could be any more beautiful!
Two old pals of Collins made their way to the stage towards the end of the evening: Richard Thompson and then, in a suit and tie, Stephen Stills, the romantic partner in the aforementioned affair! Apparently, it was a short dalliance, but impactful enough for him to have written “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” in her honor. Stills mentioned directly to Collins that although she broke his heart, he knew she “had married the right guy.” He said, “Man, Louis was great.” Collins, taken aback, explained she had just lost her husband and companion of 46 years, the industrial designer Louis Nelson, on Dec. 3rd. She was so obviously touched by Stills’ comment, that she hugged him warmly, and thanked him.
Judy Collins is a splendid woman inside and out, and her talent and influence on songwriting is a legacy that has grown over six 6 decades and a discography that consists of 36 studio albums, nine live albums, numerous compilation albums, four holiday albums, and 21 singles (at least!).
The whole evening was pretty much delicious. A triumph.
Additional performers and guests: Oakland Rain, Sophie B. Hawkins. Writer/journalist Molly Jong-Fast.
Music Directors: Russ Titelman and Russell Walden.
Band: Thad DeBrock, Zev Katz, Doug Yowell
Sound: Sean Loughry
Producer: Katherine DePaul
Publicity: Keith Sherman & Associates
