I sat at a high table with a perfect view of the stage at The Cutting Room. The two pieces of information that I carried into the club was that Emily Estefan released her album, Take Whatever You Want, on February 3rd and that she is the 22-year-old daughter of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Then I saw her parents and thought that it must be a lot of pressure to perform in their presence. I was wrong. Estefan had no problem getting up on that stage and kicking the show off with a drum solo. A true artist in her own right, Estefan unleashed an energy infused and electrifying show onto us for 105 minutes. The beat, the soul, and the rhythm moved the room. We were in for a treat!
She launched into each song taking no prisoners. Her music reflects jazz, blues, R&B, riot grrl, hip hop, soul, funk and of course, that Afro-Cuban Latin beat. Her set included songs off her album (Dream Catcher, F*ck To Be; Purple Money, Take 5, I Don’t Mind) as well as a few covers including a song from 1937 called Where/When. Estefan shared that her favorite music periods are the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Her band reflects that syncopated sound with horns, percussion, guitar and the vocals. The vibrato and effortless soulfulness of her voice moved everyone in that room and will inspire a new generation of singers. An interesting fact (and I only know this because I heard her mother say it to a small group of us in conversation) is that the singing came much later. Her focus was on her musical training (she’s a graduate of Berklee School of Music). She decided to share her voice with her parents and there was the full package.
The songs that moved me were plentiful. She prefaced each song with an intention for us. Something to think about while we listen. Then she transitioned from one of her originals to a cover of Jennifer Lopez’ Love Don’t Cause a Thing. A mediocre pop song in comparison to JLo’s body of work, Estefan recreated the song by dropping the tempo to a slow ballad that crescendos to a Latin frenzy that is now her song. Estefan also performed Take 5, a ragtime/jazz feminist anthem. “Empty me to the object you need me to be.” The room exploded. That created a perfect segue into a medley that included Billie Holliday, Lisa Stanfield, Chaka Khan, Janet Jackson, Alanis Morrisette, Beyonce and of course, Gloria.
Estefan has that special joie de vive that brings the audience into her fun world. She knows how to command an audience with wit, grace and charm. She is on a musical journey as a selfless artist inviting her listeners to be open and be happy. Her wish is for love and respect. We so need that message now.
[sidebar: The Estefans are the nicest celebrity people. They are gracious, humble and kind. And they don’t have to be.]
Take Whatever You Want is available on iTunes.
Great review! Enjoyed reading!
But Emily Estefans album is called “Take whatever you want” (not are)!