Jun 22, 2007

Anderson remains timeless jazz songstress

By Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer

Seattle-based jazz-blues legend Ernestine Anderson, at 78, who can create twice the vocal excitement of performers half her age, is looking forward to her performances at Jazz at Pearl's this weekend.

"San Francisco is one of my favorite places," she said. "I lived there, on and off, for 10 years."

She'll perform material from recent CDs, as well as vintage ones. "Whatever song you do, your personality's going to come through," she said. And no matter how many versions of a standard you've heard before, Anderson's interpretation will always stand out.

Anderson has recorded more than 30 albums and has received four Grammy nominations. She was one of 75 women chosen for the book, "I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America," joining such luminaries as Rosa Parks, Leontyne Price, Barbara Jordan and Toni Morrison.

Born in Houston, Anderson grew up listening to gospel and blues. Her influences included Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. At the age of 12, she entered a talent contest and impressed trumpeter Russell Jacquet, who hired her to sing with his big band.

At 18, she toured with the Johnny Otis band, then with Lionel Hampton's orchestra. "In those days, that's how you honed your craft, by working and traveling with a big band, learning how to sing before an audience. It was a form of schooling."

In the 1950s, Anderson settled in New York. "I think anyone in the entertainment field has a desire to go to New York. You know that old saying, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere."

She made her first album in Sweden, where she first achieved major popularity. Rave reviews for her "Hot Cargo" record soon brought her fame in North America.

"One of our greatest jazz critics, Ralph Gleason, was instrumental in promoting me and getting my career off the ground. He was so well known and he only wrote about people he liked. He didn't critique people that he didn't like. There was no negative press attached to him," Anderson said. "When he did say something about someone, people listened."

In 1959, Down Beat magazine named Anderson "Best New Vocal Star." A few years later, Anderson moved to London for a stint. "I decided I wanted to live abroad, see what I could do in Europe. I loved London," she said. "In Europe and Asia, they appreciated jazz before Americans. Now it's different. It's better here. Interest has increased."

She later returned to the States and took a step back from her career, wanting to spend more quality time with her children. In 1969, Anderson began exploring Buddhism. "It changed everything for me. It affects your life in every way ... for the better," she said.

"Before I became a Buddhist, I had lost the desire to sing. My singing had become like work, not so enjoyable. But when I joined the Buddhist faith, that all changed. I was able to enjoy and appreciate all aspects of my life, including singing."

In 1976, she signed with Concord Records and released numerous albums with them over the next 15 years. Then came a pair of Grammy-nominated albums for Quincy Jones' Qwest label. She hopes to be back in the studio in a couple of months, making a new album for High Note Records.

Although she doesn't pamper her voice, Anderson's vocals are still amazingly powerful and vibrant, which she credits to Buddhism. "We chant, 'Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.' I believe the chanting strengthens my voice."

Her performances are enriched by her wealth of experiences - in music and in life. "In November, I'll be 79 and I enjoy performing and traveling more than ever now."