Home » Jazz Articles » Live Review » ZZ Ward at Irving Plaza

9

ZZ Ward at Irving Plaza

By

Sign in to view read count
ZZ Ward with Marc Scibilia and The Young Wild
Irving Plaza
New York, NY
September 18, 2015

With a first name like ZZ, one is sure to attract some attention. With blonde hair and model-like looks like those of ZZ Ward, attention is virtually demanded. With fantastic pipes, an ability to play numerous instruments and a stage presence that draws music lovers toward the stage, much like flies are drawn to bright lights and/or honey, ZZ Ward is a force of nature.

Born Zsuzsanna Ward in Abington, PA, ZZ Ward is a singer-songwriter whose music is a wonderful mix of blues, soul, R&B, classic rock and pop with just a touch of hip-hop mixed in for good measure. While this musical mélange may sound a bit strange on paper, the mixture of sonic elements works. On a pleasant New York City Friday evening in mid-September, ZZ Ward turned up the heat and delivered the type of high-energy groundbreaking concert that, in years to come, thousands will claim that they were there and saw her performance in the small venue. A similar example would be the thousands of folks who claim to have seen Bruce Springsteen's August 1975 shows at the Bottom Line—an intimate venue which when packed-to-the-gills (as Irving Plaza was on this evening) can only accommodate a small and finite number of fans.

The crowd was primed by the two opening acts: the Young Wild from San Diego, CA and Marc Scibilia from Nashville, TN. Both were strong, offering short, polished professional, high energy sets that made even the most jaded audience members take notice. On this evening, it was the Young Wild, whose performance stood out. The group's folksy, indie-rock, alternative-pop set was highlighted by its current single "Not A One." Keep an eye out for this band, its going places.

Ward hit the stage at precisely 10pm and proceeded to blow the doors off the cozy venue. This only added to the allure of the personal, emotional nature of the singer's songs. A ZZ Ward concert is a happening. There is a give-and-take between the performer and her audience—a chemistry, a connection, per se, that reaches deep into the soul of each conveying heartbreak or joy, anguish or bliss, agony or ecstasy.

Clad in a black romper, red fedora and sky-high heels that showed off her long legs, Ward commanded the attention of each and every fan in the a standing-room only club. Ward worked the crowd and had it eating from the palm of her hand. As the audience members crowded the stage, she, in short order, performed a "Til the Casket Drops" (from the 2012 Hollywood Records CD of the same name), "OVERdue" (from her 2011 self-released 11 Roses mixtape demos), "Got It Bad" and "Ride or Die."

Pulling up a stool, Ward sat center stage with her legs crossed and played "Chains," which she stated was "a little Nick Jonas for you." Ward then took a moment to address the crowd. She said, "Etta James had a song called 'Waiting for Charlie (To COme Home).' I decided to answer it with a song called 'Charlie Ain't Home.' Wanna hear it?" The song, with its "Woo, Woo, Woo, Woo, Charlie ain't home" call and response lyric, was a show stopper. Had the performance ended right then and there, the audience members would have left satiated and happy. Thankfully, there was more...and it only served to make the audience even happier.

"Marry Well" with its classic blues construction and progression featuring Ward on harmonica and a heavy bass and drum rhythmic beat, "Criminal" and the rockin' "Move Like U Stole It," (a song, played on this night with a semi-Bo Diddley beat, about hooking up with a geeky guy in the back of his Caddy) were delivered in a bluesy, poppy and seductive manner.

Ward, who was in full control, worked the crowd like a pro, like someone who had been performing for 29 years rather than like the 29-year-old that she is. She performed in a very theatrical manner. She stalked the stage. She mugged for the cameras of the photographers both in the pit as well as those holding smartphones high (for photos and videos). And, she smiled and winked at her adoring fans.

Touring behind her latest release, Love And War (Hollywood Records, 2015), Ward's performance was pure genre-bending magic. When she sings pop, her voice is smooth and clear. Her soul, neo-soul and hip-hop vocals have just the right cadence. When she sings the blues, her performances rival those of Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and Etta James. When she rocks, she ROCKS and ROLLS. She is explosive. See her before it's impossible to score tickets to her shows. She's going to be a star.

Photo Credit: Christine Connallon
[Additional article contributions by Christine Connallon].

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Jazz article: The Cookers at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Jazz article: Julian Lage At Higher Ground

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.