CD + DVD souvenir from a spectacular one-woman show where Ruth Jacott lovingly acknowledges the ladies who were her inspiration and shows off her amazing versatility.
The evening is planned as a look back at singers that Jacott loved and respected - with her musical theatre experience, she is obviously at home on a big stage acting a bit, assuming the roles of characters from different eras and occasionally telling little stories about them.
Jacott starts the evening with her heartfelt homage to Diana Ross who apparently was her childhood idol - interesting to hear, since Jacott's voice is far more powerful and full-bloodied than Ross. From here she moves on into energetic Supremes medley, re-visits songbook by Roberta Flack, Josephine Baker, Lena Horne, Shirley Bassey, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and many others. The actress she is, Jacott can't help by acting a bit and makes note-perfect imitation of Eartha Kitt or - even better - fierce Dinah Washington whose "Mad about the boy" she does spookily brilliant, explaining along the way Washington's life story and what she meant to her.
The second part of the evening is all about upbeat,party music - Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight and others. Swept away in excitement of Rotterdam audience, Jacott sounds a bit hoarse here so this is probably better enjoyed on DVD as the concert is definitely recommended as visual experience. At the moment when she finally reaches the encore (Tina Turner, of course) Jacott and the audience must have been thrilled and excited and it shows. Jacott is excellent live performer and I am really looking forward to hear her show about Billie Holiday as she is equally at home in different music genres and knows how to act the part.
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