"We're gonna date ourselves a bit tonight and sing some of the greatest music of all time." – Natalie Cole
Commanding the stage like an inevitable cross between Lena, Dinah, and her own father, Nat, Natalie Cole held a capacity crowd in thrall last night at City Winery, performing a full 2-hour set of hits from her from platinum-selling Unforgettable…with Love (1991) and her recent follow-up, Still Unforgettable. Singing with her right arm in a sling and a rhinestone-encrusted mic in her left, she stuck mainly to the the standards made famous by her dad: "What a Difference a Day Makes," "There's a Lull In My Life," "Route 66,""Lollipops and Roses," and "Smile." Cole was absolutely charming and poised, cracking jokes and thanking the intimate crowd for helping to celebrate her birthday. (She turns 60 today, but looks at least 10 years younger.) And her vocal technique is as clear and convincing as it's ever been.
The unquestionable highlight of the night was when Cole and her (virtual) dad duetted on "Unforgettable," accompanied by a video montage of vintage photos showing the two of them together, along with famous friends like Louis and Ella. It was a stunning reminder of the direct connection Cole has to this music, having grown up around the people who made it. And, despite having her own prolific career as an R&B singer-songwriter in the 70's and 80's, she seems to have embraced her unique position with grace and gratitude. Hope we see her around here again sometime soon. (More pics at the Fan Page.)