Track Listing

1. Cheek to Cheek
2. Stormy Monday
3. Bridge over Troubled Water
4. Fine and Mellow
5. People Get Ready
6. Blue Skies
7. Tall Trees in Georgia
8. Fields of Gold
9. Autumn Leaves
10. Honeysuckle Rose
11. Take Me to the River
12. What a Wonderful World
13. Oh, Had I a Golden Thread

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2656 in Music
• Released on: 2006-08-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's difficult not to feel jealous of the audience who were present for these shows at the Blues Alley club in January, 1996. Eva Cassidy's voice has the soul of Aretha Franklin, the smoky melancholy of Billie Holiday, the raw passion of Janis Joplin all rolled into one--and she'll never make another record. Later that same year she died of cancer, leaving behind a painfully small recorded legacy to be discovered belatedly and posthumously by the rest of the world. But those fortunate few in the Blues Alley club knew the secret long before. Thankfully, producer, mentor and (for a time) boyfriend Chris Biondo had the foresight to record Eva Cassidy for--as things turned out--posterity. So, imagine yourself in a dark corner of that tiny club and let the woman with the guitar and the extraordinary voice serenade you. The set consists of standards, mostly jazz--alternately bluesy and torchy--but with a sprinkling of folk ballads that she sings with haunting delicacy (Sting's "Fields Of Gold" being the stand out track). Perfectionist that she was, Cassidy refused to let this album be released unless a studio track--Pete Seeger's "Oh, Had I A Golden Thread"--was also included. But every track is a polished jewel in her hands: the limpid beauty of Johnny Mercer's evergreen "Autumn Leaves", the swinging blues of Billie Holiday's "Fine And Mellow", the uptempo soul of Al Green's "Take Me To The River". There are only four albums featuring Eva Cassidy, and one of those is a compilation of the other three, so for anyone who is haunted by her voice, Live At Blues Alley is a must-have. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews

This is a must for any music lover.....
A couple of years ago I first heard Eva's voice and was instantly hooked. Out of all the albums, this is my favourite. A fantastic mix of Blues, Jazz and soul all delivered in Eva's unique way that will have you dancing, crying and singing along. This is as close as we will get to hearing her live - you can hear the jazz club audience in the background throughout the album. I have recommended this album to so many friends and none have been disapointed. This album will appeal to people of all music tastes. If you want to know what it's like to hear an angel sing jazz, then you must hear this album!!!

Amazing 'live' renditions unsurpassed in emotion/delivery
Various 'covers' which are raised to new levels of intensity, by a voice which carries everything so perfectly. 'Fields of Gold' makes Sting's version sound reserved and the interpretation of 'Bridge over Troubled Water'(with much more power and energy than the original S&G tune) demonstrates the range and strength in Eva's voice, coupled to some excellent instrumental backing.

The quality and production of the CD is also very good,which allows the emotion,power and control of Eva's voice to shine through.

All the tracks on this CD demand to be listened to. Her ability to move between styles, without losing control, simply amazes.

A Rare Treat, You do not hear singing like this every day.
It is hard to believe that Eva Cassidy died so shortly after having made this wonderful album.

It was recorded in front of a smallish sounding audience at Blues Alley in New York, and shows off the versitilty of her voice remarkably well.

Whether it is old time standars such as "Cheek to Cheek" and "Honeysuckle Rose", or less well known ballads such as "Tall Trees in Georgia" and "Autumn Leaves" her voice and presentation are so perfect, that she seems equally at home.

Jazz, Blues, Country influences, they are all there, and all handles with consummate skill.

A wonderful, wonderful album.

Buy it.