‘It’s more than just the music. It’s the story behind it’

Amy London packed them in at the third Speakeasy Jazz Session at the Tom Quick’s Varsity Room on Friday night, March 21.

She played to a full house of adoring fans, many of whom were jazz afficionados.

“It’s great to have an intimate jazz performance right here in Milford. It’s like having The Blue Note (venerable jazz club in New York City) right at your front door,” said Eileen Smith. “And it’s more than just the music. It’s the story behind it.”

London is steeped in the history of jazz and always provides a context for the songs she sings.

She is extremely knowledgeable about the music, its artists and composers.

London is a jazz educator and has been on the faculty at the New School’s Jazz BFA program since 1992.

Indeed, she is one of the principal architects of their highly successful vocal arts department. She also teaches at Hofstra University on Long Island.

She made the point that jazz is inclusive and takes bits from African cultures, influences from the Torah, and the Koran.

“Jazz doesn’t care what religion or color one is, or how old you are, or what your social preferences are,” London said. “Everyone is welcome in Jazz.”

London grew up in Cincinnati and moved to New York in 1980. She received her BA in Opera from Syracuse University and continued her career in Jazz.

London has been a vocal jazz director for jazz camps in France, Brazil, Vermont, Cabo Rojo, Turkey and Italy. She was enamored of the girls’ groups of the 60s and particularly by Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald.

The performance at the Speakeasy was a celebration of Women in Jazz and London was accompanied by a talented trio with Janice Friedman, piano, Jennifer Vincent, bass, and Bryana Crockett, on drums.

Ben Cassara, a well-known jazz vocalist and colleague, took the stage for one number.

Local jazz legend Ronny Whyte, London’s mentor, was in the audience, and she told how he had written the lyrics to the first chorus of “Bohemia after DarK” about Café Bohemia in The (Greenwich) Village.

London, herself, has four critically acclaimed CDs (“Party of Four, The Royal Bobsters project, Let’s Fly, and When I look in your Eyes.”)

There’s more

There are two more sessions in the Speakeasy series:

The Tardo Hammer Trio, on Friday, April 25, and A Salsa Dance Party on Saturday, May 17, at Forest Hall, complete with a Latin band and Salsa lessons starting at 6:30 p.m. before the concert.

For more information, go to www.milfordjazz.com.

Amy London is also the Artistic Director of the forthcoming Milford Jazz Festival, Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 13, to be held all throughout the town.

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