Saturday In the Park With Arts On Call

A twice postponed Arts on Call performance got its chance to shine this past Saturday as renowned classical and jazz vocalist Dr. Tiffany Renée Jackson entertained and educated a grateful audience with a special Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn-centered program in a cozy shaded corner of Wooster Square Park.

Though the rain and threat of storm had deterred two previous attempts at this event, Saturday brought sunny skies and midsummer-like temperatures to the city, and Elsie Chapman was thrilled to finally get the show she had been hoping for.

“It’s happening!” she said as she gathered friends and neighbors in chairs on the grass opposite Dr. Jackson, who was seated on a bench that had special meaning to Chapman. Name plates graced the top rail of the bench — one with her own name and one in memory of her mother, who passed away last year.

“She loved it here,” Chapman added.

There was much to love on this humid but vibrant afternoon. The birds were playfully chirping. Park visitors were dog walking and enjoying picnics, many enjoying their purchases from the nearby farmer’s market. A general sense of relief and freedom seemed to waft through the air. That was soon met with the equally vibrant sound of Dr. Jackson’s voice, as she performing backed by ​“a little bit of orchestra” emanating from her phone via her Bluetooth speaker instead of from in-person musicians.

“As a performer you learn to roll with it,” she said with a laugh.

Dr. Jackson began by presenting a brief overview of her background, noting that she had grown up in New Haven, living in the Hill and on Church Street South, and ended up studying at Yale. ​“It’s been quite a journey,” she added. She spoke about her time at the Manhattan School of Music, where she took a Duke Ellington course and ​“fell in love” with Billy Strayhorn, the composer/musician/lyricist/arranger who collaborated with Ellington for years.

“I consider myself an Ellingtonian,” Jackson said.

The first song she shared was ​“Take the ​‘A’ Train,” which she said was Ellington’s ​“signature song” and the one he started his shows with. But Strayhorn actually wrote the song, she added; it was the first song he ever wrote for Ellington, and it was written while he was on the A train. Jackson’s voice soared with the tune, creating chills that were welcomed in the steamy heat of the day. The audience seemed near speechless when she finished, but eventually answered with cries of ​“wow” and ​“amazing.” Her second song, ​“Daydream,” also elicited chills as well as ample smiles. By this point even the birds seemed to be singing along with Jackson.

Jackson chose ​“TGTT or Too Good to Title” as her third song, which she said she hadn’t performed live in a while. There was not even the slightest sense that this was not part of Jackson’s regular repertoire as she sang it with abundant joy and vigor.

The final song, ​“Come Sunday,” was one that Jackson mentioned was featured in Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, ​“his most important works,” which she also noted he brought to New Haven’s own Battell Chapel in the 1970s. She said it was her favorite tune of his and dedicated it to ​“you all, those who have been directly affected by Covid, and those who have lost people. Although we are enjoying our new life, we must always remember those we lost.”

This one was a tearjerker from nearly the first line, with the lyrics ​“Lord, dear Lord I’ve loved, God almighty, God of love, please look down and see my people through,” as Jackson stood singing with her arms raised and reaching outward. For a few minutes it felt as if that corner of the square was its own little chapel. Once again the audience answered with shouts of ​“amazing” and generous applause, and Jackson herself was just as appreciative.

“Arts and Ideas, they’re doing a great thing,” she said. ​“I feel so much more connected.”

She then expanded upon her experiences this past year in quarantine, speaking about how she and so many of her friends had lost gigs, but she also ​“got an opportunity to think about what I’m grateful for.” This led to her expanding her music education prorgram, Gift Passion Purpose Project, into providing not only resources to those kids who can’t afford voice lessons, but also mentorships between professional vocalists and students. She thanked Chapman once again for bringing her to Wooster Square on this day ​“to help me celebrate music and bringing us all together.”

Jackson had also mentioned during the performance that she had recently accepted a Professor of Music position tenure track at Western Carolina University and would be leaving New Haven soon to begin her new journey. ​“But I’ll be back,” she said with a smile. Most of the group stayed after the show to talk more with her, inquiring further about her new teaching role and wishing her well. As Jackson had mentioned earlier, ​“New Haven: it’s a small community, but it’s tight knit.”

The International Festival of Arts and Ideas runs through June 27. For more information about the Arts On Call program as well as the many other events being presented please visit the Arts and Ideas website.