Rene Marie Conquers Chi Town

A lot of people were there Thursday night to make up for last year.  That’s when René Marie was originally scheduled for a show at the Logan Center with Freddie Cole and cancelled due to illness.  As she and her trio walked on stage and prepared to begin, a woman in the audience exclaimed, “We love you!”.  The statement threw Ms. Marie off guard for a second before she jokingly responded, “Thanks, Mom.”

Similar short and warm exchanges between the artist and those assembled to hear her peppered the entire set.  Without giving details regarding her health, she simply said I’m sorry (about last year) with humble sincerity.  All was forgiven even before she spoke those words and eased into a program full of beauty, nuance, humor and joy.

Following the audience’s suggestion, Ms. Marie went off script and sang songs from a number of her CD’s, not just her latest project, the Grammy nominated, Red.  She even opened with somebody else’s work entirely; Turn the Page by Bob Seeger, a poignant and lovely song about the realities of being perpetually on tour.

Most times you can’t hear ‘em talk, other times you can

All the same clichés: “Is that a woman or a man?”

And you’re always seem outnumbered, you don’t dare make a stand

The vocalist has a knack for molding songs to reflect her view of the world and in that way, makes other people’s material sound as if she wrote them.  Her interpretations are revelatory and have embedded within them the unmistakable gleam of wisdom.  Add an exceptional and versatile voice to all of that and you have a portrait of an extremely gifted artist.

Early on it was clear a unique bond was forming between the singer and her audience.  Both seemed to be inspired by the other.  Stimulated by Ms. Marie’s candor and openness, the audience seemed to subliminally validate and encourage her frankness.  Even her band plugged into the vibe.  John Chin, who’s worked on piano with Ms. Marie for over a decade, played with a soulfulness and vigor that had everyone sitting high in their seats lapping up the sweet and often rocking rhythms.  Drummer Quinton Baxter and bassist, Elias Bailey, played with equal fluidity, control and musical sensitivity.

Inspired by “lust and imagination”, If You Were Mine typified Ms. Marie’s unique outlook, vocal gifts and style.  With the slightest hint of jump blues folded into the sophistication of her jazz format, the song swung hard and was chock full of the kind of wit and insight that draws smiles of recognition to every face.

If You Were Mine may have been about the wanton desire of a woman for a man, but it did not warp the unconventional feminist bent in the overall tone of the evening.  Stating at one point that “This is a wonderful time to be a woman”, she recounted how she followed her son’s advice that she take up singing professionally, talked of the courage it took to take that leap and the rewards of following your instincts.  She then brought it forward to today and spoke admiringly of the burgeoning consciousness and impact of women’s empowerment and activism.   Her comments were just part of the conversation that evening.  Linking one wonderful song to another, leaving a deliciously sated audience and creating a long queue for CD’s after the show.