Search - Sylvia Kuumba Williams :: From New Orleans

The quintessential New Orleans sound

jonne dendinger | New Orleans, LA USA | 05/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A woman who originated the starring role in one of Musical Theater's greatest revues ("One Mo' Time"), toured internationally, was a movie and television actress, a celebrated performer in Sweden, and performed for and rubbed elbows with the crowned heads of Europe, Sylvia "Kuumba" Williams was truly one of a kind. A voice that can conjure up images of steamy French Quarter alleys on humid August nights, Kuumba was and is the quintessential voice of the city that care forgot. From a gut wrenching rendition of "Precious Lord Take My Hand" that evokes images of a Jazz funeral winding it's mournful way through Treme to the downright bawdy, no-holds-barred spice of "Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On", this CD is a must for any listener who wishes to be transported to a time and place where the highlight of a hard day's work was to come home and sit on "the gall'ry" and pass the time with "the people from the neighborhood". Kuumba was a dear friend who was taken from us way too soon. Not only did she take me under her wing to share her musical talents with me, she taught me things about show business that help me to this day. How I miss our "real quick--I won't keep you long" four and five hour phone calls! Her mischievous sense of fun pervades this collection from top to bottom---try it, you won't be disappointed...God bless you Kuumba!"