Nightbird (Eva Cassidy album)
Nightbird is a 2-CD plus 1-DVD live album by American singer Eva Cassidy, released posthumously in November 2015, nineteen years after her death. The album was recorded at the Blues Alley club in Washington, D.C. in January 1996. Some of the tracks had previously been released on the 1996 album, "Live at Blues Alley". The recordings have been remixed and remastered from the original tapes. Of the 31 songs, 12 are previously unreleased, including the title track "Nightbird" (written by Doug MacLeod), as well as the jazz standards "It Don't Mean a Thing  (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and "Fever". Of the 12 unreleased tracks, eight are previously unheard songs. The DVD which accompanies the 2 audio CDs contains 12 songs from the same set, of which 9 were previously included on the 2004 DVD release "Eva Cassidy Sings" and the remaining 3 are released for the first time. Critical reception. Matt Adams of "The Herts Advertiser" wrote: "An exceptional release, offering fresh insights into perhaps one of the greatest female vocalists of all time. Highly recommended." Michael Bailey of All About Jazz said: ""Nightbird" reveals a modern song stylist not  unlike Frank Sinatra. Cassidy's interpretative skills had few, if any, peers. She was equally at home with the Box Tops ("The Letter") and Bobby Troup ("Route 66"); Peggy Lee ("Fever") and Aretha Franklin ("Chain of Fools"). Her repertoire outside of the jazz standards and blues lay easily in the memory of anyone coming of age in the 1980s and '90s. "Nightbird" is a singular event to be savored and a talent too great to have experienced for such a short time." Colin Morris of Stuff.co.nz said: "'Not without its flaws, there are some drop-outs, and I'm sure  Cassidy would not approve of some tracks. A tad strident, wrongly paced and boasting the occasional misreading of the composer's intentions, it is nevertheless a wonderful reminder of a talent lost too soon – her voice is simply remarkable and emotional." Track listing. – * = previously available on "Live at Blues Alley" – ** = previously available on "Eva Cassidy Sings" (DVD); "What A Wonderful World" from that collection is omitted here.