Season of Lights. . . Laura Nyro In Concert (With Bonus Track) [Live]

iTunes Review

Laura Nyro’s live album Season of Lights was originally intended as a double-disc package, but was cut down to a single disc for its initial U.S. release in 1977. Finally, the full-length version of this magical set appeared some 30 years later — and proved to be well worth the wait. Nyro and her stellar back-up group deliver a mesmerizing selection of tunes drawn from the singer/songwriter’s earliest days through her then-current studio album Smile. The music here overlays ethereal shimmers upon funky grooves, defined by the supple playing of such jazz notables as guitarist John Tropea, bassist Richard Davis and vibraphonist Michael Mainieri. Nyro herself is in top form, giving “Money” and “The Confession” a wailing urgency and reconsidering older compositions like “And When I Die” and “Sweet Blindness” with a caressing touch. Mystical torch ballads like “Sweet Lovin’ Baby” and “Captain St. Lucifer” gain a fuller, more soulful sheen. Of special interest is the previously unrecorded “The Morning News,” a brooding social commentary set to cascading vibes.