By Marcia Blondin***Singer-songwriter Tracy Stark walked into the Casa Karma Red Room, sat at the piano and asked if everyone could see her okay. From my front-row seat, I could see from her nose up to her wildcat hair. All you really need to see in people is their eyes, so my line of sight was perfect.
Ms. Stark explained at the beginning of her show that she had put together a playlist of her favorite s
ongs by her favorite songwriters, and each one carried especially memorable melodies and/or lyrics. She also included a direct quote for most of them that summed up their bodies of work.
Stark was particularly enamored and influenced by both Ricky Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell. I was enamored listening to Tracy’s voice run up and down with the tricky timing and odd syncopation of Ricky Lee’s lyrics, with the smile never leaving her face. I could only see that smile in her eyes and the unruly head of hair bobbing and weaving in time.
When she spoke, her words tumbled out of her mouth, often not fast enough to keep up with her train of thought as one revelation after another popped into her head. I thought she was charming and eminently huggable.
I hope to see more of this effervescent talent, who has won 13 MAC Awards and counting, during the remainder of the Fiesta de Cabaret. She is a joy.
