Nancy Wilson Concert At SPAC Well Received

by Bill Rice, The Troy Record, August 28, 1972

Singer Nancy Wilson was at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sunday evening and the proverbial “small but attentive audience” that generally turns out for good jazz groups and singers was on hand to greet her. Only slightly more than 1,000 were in the audience, a disappointing turnout in view of the young lady’s talents.

Miss Wilson is a fine singer in the tradition of some of the best black female vocalists. Her voice is in perfect control at all times, whether in a breathy seductive whisper, or full-throated scream, and very little was heard of the latter quality, in contrast to the singing of Melba Moore heard earlier this season. All in all, Miss Wilson’s was a far more musical performance.

True Feel For Jazz

She has a true feel for jazz that separates the women from the girls, if you will, and vocalizes around the melodic line very prettily.

Miss Wilson sang some songs that have been around a while, such as Honeysuckle Rose, the show tune, Hello Young Lovers, and a medley of It Hurt So Bad and Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You. She went to some new ones No Sunshine When You’re Gone and filled in between songs with witty introductions that really made you wonder what tune was coming up next.

She received strongest applause for Guess Who I Saw Today, a song the vibrant singer said is always a personal challenge.

I’m Beginning To See The Light opened with a walking bass solo to which Miss Wilson playfully hummed the Jack Benny theme song before really getting into it. On this one she proved to be a singer who can swing with the best of them.

In all, Miss Wilson sang about 15 songs, not a bad evening’s work, though the concert seemed all too short.

Unnecessary Ballad

There was one quite unnecessary ballad, This Girl Is A Woman Now. With the gown she was wearing, no one in the audience needed to be reminded of that.

Back-up music was provided by the local Johnny Costas Orchestra, led by Miss Wilson’s pianist, Phil Wright. The group did an excellent job of backing the singer. Preceding Miss Wilson was a local folk group, The Patterns. The group sang well in their style, but would have been better suited preceding a singer like Mary Travers rather than Nancy Wilson. They were, however, well received by the audience.

Nancy Wilson’s show was the first in a string of specials at Saratoga this week. Performing today and this evening will be Sonny and Cher.

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