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My First Date with New York City - Part 3
(Part 1 is in the April 1st column; Part 2 is in the April 15th column. This is the final part.) |
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As with Indochine, when we arrived at Bradley�s it was abundantly clear that everyone in the place was very well acquainted with New York City but her entrance here was devoid of the high-camp outrageousness she had displayed so far. Several glasses were raised in her honor as we made our way back to a table and she acknowledged them with a slight nod of her head and a fixed, serious expression on her face. I was sure this table was kept for her every night in the event she would show, which apparently was often enough. There was a wonderful trio that night; piano, bass and tenor sax. New York City was immediately enveloped in it and began to swoon a bit and sway with the sound. �This�, she murmured, then paused� �Now this music is really me�. Being the last set of the evening everyone there mirrored New York City�s sense of it all. It was as though the earlier sets constructed a prelude building toward the exquisite subliminal perfection of this late hour. |
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Then to my (singular) surprise the pianist asked New York City to come up and do a song. Without hesitation she beamingly acquiesced, honestly pleased, while everyone applauded wildly. �Well� you all know my preference for Mr. Gershwin�, she said feigning shyness and again there was an enthusiastic burst of applause. She whispered something to the pianist then counted off with the trio and did a beautifully tender and poignant rendition of �Our Love is Here to Stay�. Her voice was gently seductive, tinged with a smoky quality and totally uncharacteristic of the manic personality I had seen earlier. |
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She did just that one song; and did it with an indescribable perfection given the mood, the audience and the hour. Despite a wild and well deserved standing ovation she refused to sing anymore not wishing to upstage the trio. We settled back into the atmosphere |
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