By: Odri Suero Medina
October 2, 2022
The Blue Llama Jazz club although a small place, tonight it was full of blissful delight by the music brought forth by Jean Holden and her jazz band. The entrance of the club can be deceptive, when you enter the host is waiting at the door and all you see is a large bar with people sitting on stools and drinking but as you go in the entire atmosphere changes. The lighting is dark with mood lighting, beautiful and modern light fixtures, and candles lighting up every table, in the background the band plays calm and low background music which creates an atmosphere of romance and intimacy. Soon after coming in the atmosphere changes from one of everyone focused on their own conversations and meals to one of profound admiration when Jean Holden comes out.
Now Jean is an elderly black woman full of elegance and charisma. You can soon realize that the room is not full of fans but of old friends, she mentions almost each person in the room by name, all people who travelled all the way from Toledo, Ohio just to see Jean perform at the Blue Llama for the very first time. Even Jean’s daughter is there alongside her leading the band as the piano player. It feels more like a big happy family full of elderly people sitting in a living room eating, drinking, and enjoying music together rather than what you’d think a concert would be. They all even go into Jean’s dressing room after the first set is over to greet her and congratulate her on the show.
Jeans set is a mix of original songs and covers of well-known songs that she enjoys. Most of the songs on her list are full of lyrics of love intimacy and sex. With lyrics such as “take care while theirs such temptation”, “we’ve only tasted the wine, we’re gonna suck the cup dry”, and “one thing leads to another, nowhere to run for cover,” Jean builds upon the intimacy that is found in the room through the lighting and music. Jean notably covers songs such as “Do it again” by Judy Garland, “Crazy” by, Patsy Cline, and “Hello” by Lionel Richie. All of the songs follow the same pattern first enters the piano to direct the mood of the song, the enters Jean alongside the rest of the band, Jean sings the first couple of verses and chorus when immediately they jump into a guitar solo done by guitarist Ariel Cassler, after the solo is over Jean does one more verse and chorus and then the song is over.
Each song done by Jean has a purpose with many of her originals being dedicated to her late husband Harvey Holden. Jean speaks about her husband to her friends in the room and cries while singing to exemplify how much the lyrics mean to her.
If you are searching for a concert full of intimacy, friendship, and full of emotion, Jean Holden’s concert at the Blue Llama is the concert for you. It is full of laughter, fun, and overall, a sense of being in a room of like-minded people who enjoy the beauty of music.
