Dee Alexander
Cabin Fever Jazz

Although this concert consisted primarily of selections from Ms. Alexander's critically acclaimed Wild is the Wind CD, she chose to open with "My Baby Cares For Me," a number she often performs but one not on the CD. This is a Nina Simone song and Nina is one of Dee's favorite vocalist. Seldom does she perform without paying homage to Ms. Simone.

As is typical with Dee, she featured her band mates during the entire afternoon and de la Cerna and Adams took the first spotlight on "Surrender Your Love." This song was received with a rousing ovation.

Throughout both sets, Dee shared with the audience stories about her early life and her introduction to jazz vocalists by her mother. At an early age she began listening to Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, and Sarah Vaughn. Dinah's "This Bitter Earth," was done in Dee's typical fashion, as she caries this tune with class and style. Again, de la Cerna was tickling the 88s with the greatest of ease. Several selections from the CD were either written by, or for her deceased mentor "Light" Henry Huff, a Chicago musician who guided her career early on. "You and I," "Live" and "See You on The Other Side" highlighted Dee's ability to articulate and enunciate lyrics like no other vocalist. Her phrasing is always impeccable and scatting on "You and I" exemplifies her varied abilities. She has such vocal control that always allows her make singing appear to be such an simple task.

Dee used her vocal chords like a chirping bird on "Rossignol." Harrison Bankhead picked up his electric bass during this segment. This writer has witnessed Bankhead on numerous occasions with this being the first time seeing him master the electric bass. He seemed to be at ease with that instrument as he is with the acoustic bass.

The first set was concluded with a tribute to Fred Anderson, legendary Chicago saxophonist entitled "Baba Fred." Again Dee made her instrument sound like a trombone as she primarily scatted, making the simplest utterances sound so magnificent. Drummer Adams, using the entire drum kit, aroused the crowd as they brought the set to a climatic conclusion.

Dee allowed her top shelf band to showcase their skills during the second set. While she introduced most numbers Miguel, Ernie and Harrison took charge with sterling arrangements. On "Live," Bankhead effectively used the bow to accent Dee's vocal presence. Adams again displayed his quicksilver hands to reveal melodic ingenuity on the skins.

Perhaps the most touching number during this concert was her "message" to Light Henry Huff on "See You On The Other Side." This is such a beautiful song and Dee articulates it with grace and conviction. While de la Cerna was at it again with another extended solo, Adams soft usage of the bongos could be easily heard in the background.

The final selection of the afternoon was "Butterfly," another piece from the CD Harrison introduced this song with a long extended solo before the others joined in. This all star band simply took command of this number as Ms. Alexander admired her colleagues from the background. The Lake Forest showed their appreciation of this splendid group and concert with a spontaneous standing ovation.

For information about future Gorton events, refer to their website at www.gortoncenter.org.