Judy Collins, a legend of the folk scene, takes to the stage, guitar in hand and sweetly warbles one of the evening’s sentiments: “Open the door and come on in/I'm so glad to see you, my friend.” And it is a joy to hear Judy’s piercingly clear voice, which grabs you and focuses your attention on the powerful lyrics of her generation’s greatest songwriters.

Collins has a weighty résumé and a fascinating pedigree. The ‘60s folk scene engendered great friendships and musical collaborations. Her upbringing as a child piano prodigy with a radio star for a father gave her diversity and the eclecticism she would incorporate into her later career. She sails through her signature cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and Joan Baez’s beautiful “Diamonds and Rust.” Teasing us with snippets of good friend Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” and “Amazing Grace,” she settles on the Scottish whale hunters’ folk tune “Farewell to Tarwathie.”  Jimmy Webb’s humorous “Campo de Encino” segues into the heartfelt paternal tribute “My Father,” an original composition suggested by Cohen.

Collins shines on her stirring cover of Jacques Brel/Eric Blau/Mort Shuman’s “Sons Of..,” one of the evening’s many highlights, and “Someday Soon.” She takes to the piano to sing her own compositions, the autobiographical “Albatross,” “Big Sur” and “Twilight” (about her mother’s decent into Alzheimer’s). She finished with Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns,” a song she helped popularize in 1975. Basking in Collins’s aura is a joy, touching memories that have been quietly dormant for decades.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
September 27, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org