Jazz Articles

Shirley Witherspoon: Magic & Love

by Glenn Astarita
July 1, 2000

Vocalist Shirley Witherspoon enjoyed a brief stint with Duke Ellington yet has been a major force on the Minneapolis/St.Paul jazz scene for thirty-nine years. In fact, January 26th is “Shirley Witherspoon” day in Minnesota yet Ms. Witherspoon was diagnosed with diabetes in 1986, which has to some extent, impeded her career. However, with her fine new release titled, Magic & Love, the vocalist demonstrates why she is so highly regarded as a premier jazz/blues vocalist and stylist. Here, she receives ...