R.I.P. Abbey Lincoln

Abbey Lincoln in concert, 1992

Bold and Introspective Jazz Singer Dies at 80:  “Abbey Lincoln, a singer whose dramatic vocal command and tersely poetic songs made her a singular figure in jazz, died on Saturday in Manhattan. She was 80 and lived on the Upper West Side.

…Long recognized as one of jazz’s most arresting and uncompromising singers, …[h]er singing style was unique, a combined result of bold projection and expressive restraint. Because of her ability to inhabit the emotional dimensions of a song, she was often likened to Billie Holiday, her chief influence. But Ms. Lincoln had a deeper register and a darker tone, and her way with phrasing was more declarative.” (NYTimes.com obituary)