The Incredible Kandace Springs entertained Milwaukee
Kandace Springs was the third and final performer of the 2023 three-show jazz series at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, and she did not disappoint her fans at the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall. There were several enthused fans in attendance, including those who were initially introduced to the incredible Kandace Springs when she performed at Milwaukee’s Fresh Coast Jazz Festival in 2021, longtime fans, and couples who flew into Milwaukee from other cities to enjoy her performance.
The Venue
Marcus Performing Arts Center is part of the Milwaukee Theater District, built in 1966 with planning that began as early as 1945, and a grand opening in 1969. This was a war memorial project to provide for art, music, drama, public discussion, and social assembly, which includes a large music hall, a Broadway-type theater, and a recital hall. There are four major theater venues and additional halls, all of which host a variety of events ranging from live theater to banquets. Some of the infamous performances at Marcus Performing Arts Center include Ray Charles (1973), Ella Fitzgerald (1976), and Joan Baez (1979). Broadway plays include Hamilton, Cats, and Phantom of the Opera. Uihlein Hall, with a seating capacity of 2,125, is the largest of the theater venues and often features plays, operas, and other productions including the orchestra. Peck Pavillion is an outdoor theater with a seating capacity of 402 and is located on the Milwaukee River. There are also smaller banquet facilities inside Marcus Performing Arts Center. The Todd Wehr Theater, with a seating capacity of 498, hosts conferences, plays, concerts, and meetings. Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall has a seating capacity of 465 and was the perfect venue for an up close and personal performance by Kandace Springs.
Jazz Series 2023 – 2024
Marcus Performing Arts Center is featuring another three-show jazz series featuring Pat Metheny 10/05/2023, Cecile McLorin Salvant 1/27/2024, and Delfeayo Marsalis 2/29/2024, and tickets can be found here: https://www.marcuscenter.org/get-tickets/mpac-jazz-series/
Kandace Springs
Is an absolutely incredible pianist and soul singer from Nashville, and the daughter of the late Nashville soul singer Scat Springs. She has released three albums on Blue Note Records: Soul Eyes (2016), Indigo (2018), and The Women Who Raised Me (2020), all three of which happen to be in my vinyl library (I had to get them after I first saw her at Milwaukee’s Fresh Coast Jazz Festival). She released her fourth album, My Name Is Sheba (2022), on Subplay Creative. Her upcoming album, Songs For My Father, with a release date later this year, is a dedication to him.
Incredible
If you see Kandace live, then you quickly learn how she also enjoys sharing meaningful details about how those who have influenced her, whether it is Roberta Flack, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sade, Nina Simone, Norah Jones, or her greatest hero, her loving father Scat Springs. This is part of her incredible artisanship as she makes the audience feel as if she is performing just for them. She is graceful, vulnerable, soulful, and an incredible pianist. For someone like me who dabbled with piano lessons as a child, I am absolutely in awe of her performance, and I am by far not alone with how much I enjoy her, as she had three standing ovations during her performance at Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Her Performance
Kandace performed with a bass player from Juilliard, and drummer Camille Gainer Jones. The set list included new songs from her upcoming Songs For My Father:
“We’ll Find A Way” which she wrote at the age of 17, “Closer To Me,” and “Run Your Race.” Here is a beautiful tribute she put together for “Run Your Race”
Of course, the audience gave her a standing ovation following “Run Your Race,” which was our way of hugging her as we connected to her heartfelt dedication to Scat Springs.
The Setlist also included “There is a Woman in Somalia,” “Wild Is The Wind,” “I Put A Spell On You,” and “Killing Me Softly.” Both “I Put A Spell On You” and “Killing Me Softly” were also met with standing ovations.
Kandace also does such a brilliant performance of “Killing Me Softly” on her The Women Who Raise Me album, which you can enjoy here:
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