Not since Streisand

From 1974 to 1984 I owned and ran two well-known jazz clubs in New York City. First Buddy’s Place (Buddy Rich led the in-house band), a big-band and singers’ nightclub near Madison Square Garden, and then from 1976 to 1984 Marty’s, a small supper club featuring jazz singers with trios (such as Carmen McRae, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson and many more).

I have listened to and known well most of the great jazz names. Not since the early ‘60s, when a young 18-year-old Brooklyn girl (Barbra Streisand) sang in the Broadway show “I Can Get It for You Wholesale,” stopped the show and blew me away, have I been so affected by a new voice as I was, just last week, by Norah Jones (“A Sweet Mystery,” Jan. 26).

McRae was a good friend and she always talked about her first idol and mentor, “Lady” Billie Holiday. She would have loved Norah since she sounds so much like “Lady.” To me, she is the best new singer to come along since Streisand.

I have listened to her CD over and over for the past four days, and every word, every phrase, every sound captivates me. Don’t change a thing, Norah, and don’t let anyone change you. You are the best, whatever your niche, just as you are.

Marty Ross

Carlsbad