Maria Muldaur at Iridium

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                                                  Just to get it out of the way, yes indeed, Maria Muldaur is the artist who sang the infectious 70s hit "Midnight at the Oasis." But she is ever so much than just the sum of that one song. In an extremely varied career that spans 39 years, Ms. Muldaur has explored a plethora of musical styles, settling in the last few years, in the blues. She will soon release her 40th album of songs, tribute to Memphis Minnie.

I had the extreme pleasure of spending an hour with Muldaur during her second set last evening at Iridium Jazz Club, where she performed many songs from her upcoming release, a marvelous selection of tunes from her previous efforts and closed with what she comically refers to as "the big three." 

Fit and feisty, with her signature mane of dark, curly locks firmly in place, 69 year-old Muldaur took the stage in what is best described as a sparkling, faux denim blouse and black slacks, and dove right into "Mojo Mambo" with that oh so sexy, husky and unmistakable voice of hers. After humorously informing an intimate, adoring audience that she would be singing an entirely different group of songs from the first set (but many of the same notes!) she grabbed her trusty tambourine and slid into "Recovered Soul." Speaking of that tambo, as it's often called, it acts as a sort of extension of Ms. Muldaur's arm, slipping effortlessly up and down at the appropriate time (to great effect) and resting on her forearm like some kind of giant bracelet the rest. 

As is befitting a musical legend and consummate professional, she is backed by incredibly top notch musicians who form her Bluesiana Boys (Chris Burns on keyboard and bass, Dave Tucker on drums and Chris Atkins on guitar), each a standout in his own right. Maria gives each many a chance to shine, gracefully leading the proceedings. Together they function as a fabulous, funky, well-oiled machine. An evening spent with these folks is like a history lesson in folk and blues and you couldn't get much closer to that nuanced and nasty New Orleans feeling than we did last night right here in New York City. Speaking of deliciously nasty, Ms. Muldaur's song choices included the saucy "Won't You Be My Chauffeur" (and ride, ride, ride), plus gems like "Richland Woman Blues," "That's What Bessie Told Me" and "Don't You Never Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down." With a timely and appropriate introduction that put her feelings about human rights (gay, straight or otherwise) front and center, she launched into a scintillating "They Call That Religion (But I Know They're Going to Hell When They Die)" and treated us to "Steady Love" from her most recent release.

Closing out the set, Ms. Muldaur blessed us with the three songs she says her fans just won't let her leave without, and that she humorously and affectionately calls "the big three." These would be "It Ain't the Meat (It's the Motion)" and two signature songs from her first solo release ("Don't You Make Me High/Don't You Feel My Leg" and, of course, "Midnight at the Oasis".) If you have not yet discovered the marvelous Maria Muldaur, I highly recommend you investigate her large catalog, and you could do no worse than the start with that self-titled solo debut. It has lost none of it's original luster over time, nor has Ms. Muldaur, which she proved time and time again last night.