Tzaddi is as petite as they come, but her talent is limitless! I witnessed that talent for the second time in one month (see recent interview on the Conduit Show http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/15350496) when I was privy to her performance ‘Tzaddi Sings Lena’ on June 29 at The D Lounge in lower Manhattan.

The intimate setting and ambience of The D Lounge provided the perfect backdrop for what was to follow. Why Tzaddi calls this performance a “workshop” is beyond my comprehension. Instead, I witnessed a night of polished performance. From her entry on stage three minutes past the start time until her exit almost two hours later, I sat mesmerized at the transformation taking place on stage.

There is no doubt that Tzaddi loves Lena Horne, there is no doubt because it shows in her passionate performance. Interspersed between songs, in an easy cabaret style, Tzaddi interacts with the audience, drawing them into the Lena Horne experience with little known tidbits. The similarities between Tzaddi and Lena are spooky, I won’t detail them here, but one certainly is left with the impression that somewhere Lena Horne is smiling and very very happy that her memory and contribution to the world of music, arts, philanthropy and activism are alive and well. Tzaddi not only sings Lena, but she also teaches Lena to the children of the star’s beloved Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood.

Tzaddi showcases her range, control and star quality when singing such stalwarts like :

“You’d Better Love Me”, “Surrey with the Fringe on Top”, “Where or When”,” I love to Love”, “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”, “Push De Button”, “Cocoanut Sweet”,” Let me Love you”, “Ain’t it the Truth” and the timeless classic “Stormy Weather”. The set ends with “I Can’t Give you Anything but Love”. It takes stamina to perform a solo act, relying on your voice and a lone piano accompaniment is not an easy thing to do, but Tzaddi manages to hold the attention of an audience using all of the many skills in her performance arsenal. I understand that she also wrote and co-produced the performance in collaboration with Ciona Taylor LLC. I’m sure there were many who helped to make the evening such a resounding success, but special mention must be made of Rae Wilson who acted as production manager.

It really was a celebration of a life well lived and Tzaddi was ably assisted on piano by David Lahm, the talented music cabaret veteran and son of Academy Award winning songwriter – Dorothy Fields.

At the stroke of midnight, it is June 30th – Lena Horne’s birthday – what could be a better birthday gift?!

[Sheron Hamilton-Pearson – July 2011]