Walkin’ After Midnight: a stunningly strong album
Today the new Eva Cassidy album Walkin After Midnight will be available as a CD / LP. The recordings for this intimate live album were made at the King of France Tavern, in the Maryland Inn, downtown Annapolis on 2 November, 1995, exactly one year before Eva died. To everyone’s surprise, it turns out to be a stunningly strong album.
Eva sang and played her acoustic guitar, she was accompanied by friend and producer Chris Biondo on bass and Keith Grimes on electric guitar. Guest musician that night was classical, jazz and rock violinist Bruno Nasta. Eva’s voice sounded freely thanks to the space that was created by the absence of additional instruments. Bruno Nasta, who was used to playing in a symphony orchestra, proved to be an excellent fiddler, playing in the same style as Eva’s brother Dan. Virtuoso blues rock guitarist Keith Grimes, responded that evening with a light western swing feel.
Album cover
Eva had organised this gig herself, she invited Bruno to sit in, and Chris plugged a DAT recorder into the house PA system. Keith was a little annoyed to find himself playing with an unrehearsed fiddle player. But it worked out wonderfully well. He and Bruno became friends over the years, and Bruno added his instrument to several of the five Emmy winning National Geographic Channel scores created by Lenny Williams and Chris Biondo.
Chris Biondo
Bruno Nasta had initially met Eva at a Four Season’s Hotel wedding in Tyson Corner (greater Vienna), Virginia, where Eva was performing. Bruno, whose band was playing in the same hotel that night, beheld Eva for the first time, and vice versa. Bruno’s first impression of Eva was: ‘Beyond critique, pure joy.’ Since there had been no rehearsal before this gig Bruno was simply winging it ‘whenever those blue eyes signalled me to come in.’
Announcement
Walking After Midnight is a delightful addition that complements Eva’s existing repertoire. With stripped-down arrangements featuring violin, lead guitar, bass and acoustic guitar, this performance feels intimate and fresh, allowing Eva’s joyous vocals to shine. While most of the songs are familiar to long-time fans, their raw and unpolished nature makes this collection a unique listening experience.
In a set list that included many of the songs for which Eva would become known, including ‘Autumn Leaves’, ‘Over The Rainbow’, ‘Songbird’, ‘Wade In The Water’ and ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ is her interpretation of ‘Desperado’ a ‘new’ one. This was the first song co-written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey for the Eagles (and the title track of their second studio album in 1973).
Keith Grimes
Eva and her brother Dan played ‘Desperado’ already when they were teenagers. Thirty years after this recording, Eva’s performance of ‘Desperado’ is now released for the first time. Only with the advent of the studio technical breakthroughs of the past few years has it been possible to isolate Eva’s vocals. Lenny Williams’ 2024 Rhodes electric piano/B-3 Hammond organ parts, reminiscent of the era that spawned the song, accompany Eva’s magical voice on this recording. No one better to span the decades than Eva’s own musical keyboard partner.
Maryland Inn, Annapolis
“It’s always a privilege to work on an unreleased Eva Cassidy vocal and the minute I heard the vocal for ‘Desperado’ I knew we had something special. This is one of Eva’s most soulful and beautiful vocal performances,’ said Lenny Williams.
‘Desperado’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa9QtkTNxi0
One response to “Walkin’ After Midnight: a stunningly strong album”
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Thank you Katrina for your delightful review of Eva’s Walkin’ After Midnight album! I’ve already heard Desperado, but I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.