I was sad to learn that Blossom Dearie has died at age 84.
Last April I happened to tumbl her masterpiece, “Manhattan.” I wrote:
I first heard this song during the outro of a Fresh Air episode very shortly after 911 (I think this one). I had never heard Blossom Dearie and I was completely floored—by the lyrics, by the performance, by the perfectly nostalgic wistfulness that was overwhelming after the tragedy that had just struck, the recollection of innocence.
And Tell me what street compares to Mott Street in July
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by
The great big city’s a wonderous toy
Made for a girl and boy
We’ll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.
In 2001 or 2002 my wife and I went to see Blossom Dearie perfrom at Danny’s Skylight on W 48th Street in Manhattan, where she played regularly for years and where the photo, above, from the NY Times obit, was taken. Her voice had lost some of the whispery quality that used to characterize it, but she was still a master of undestatement and timing—and her piano playing was brilliant as ever. It was one of the great performances that I have seen.
I’ll be posting some more Blossom Dearie songs on my opentape in a little while.
RIP Blossom.
