This paper studies the concert performed by Cécile McLorin Salvant and Sullivan Fortner at Brooklyn Bridge Park on May 5, 2021. Salvant is an American jazz singer famous for winning numerous awards praising her voice. Fortner is also an award-winning composer and pianist who is known for his artistic performance. Both are famous representatives of the Jazz music genre, which is the reason for the audience’s warm welcome. Salvant and Fortner perform as a piano-vocal duo, which is not the most common format of Jazz concerts but is nonetheless effective. The combination of Salvant’s voice and gestures with Fortner’s piano techniques and mimics underscores the uniqueness of their duo.
The first positive aspect of the concert is the way it is structured. The concert takes one hour in total, which is time adequate for holding the attention of the audience. There are eleven songs with no more than twenty seconds between them. Salvant uses this time effectively, interacting with the audience, telling jokes, and introducing new songs. Despite being extremely dense, this timeframe allows the performers to entertain and engage the audience while preventing themselves from tiring. The concert starts with a light “I’m All Smiles,” then continues with more emotionally packed lyrics, culminating with a dramatic “Fog,” and finishes with a lighter “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.” As a result, the choice and order of songs consistently build and release tension, leaving the audience satisfied.
The second positive aspect is the performance of the vocalist. Salvant expresses emotions coherently with the lyrics of her songs. For instance, the melancholy of “Fog” is articulated when she raises moves her hand closer to her, thus indicating the sadness of love dreams that were not fulfilled (roolin 35:18). Likewise, the sense of a girl being special in “Pirate Jenny” is conveyed via a smile and a palm placed firmly on her chest (roolin 52:09). Naturally, Salvant’s strongest component is the multitude of her voice tones, ranging from deep (roolin 14:11) to extremely high and girlish (roolin 50:44). Combined with her gestures and mimics, Salvant’s use of her voice makes each song performance unique.
The third highlight of the concert is the performance of the pianist. Fortner is as important to the concert as Salvant. Naturally, the concert would not have been possible had it not been for his exceptional piano talent. Yet, in concerts with performing singers, pianists do not usually receive as much attention. This is not the case with Fortner, who manages to be noticeable despite sitting on the same spot. First, instead of sitting still, he moves his legs and faces the audience (roolin 25:55). In some cases, Salvant holds a more static position than Fortner, which makes him even more eye-catching (roolin 25:55). Second, he uses facial expressions that draw the attention of the audience (roolin 8:19). Third, there are numerous nonverbal interactions between him and Salvant. The most evident of them is at the beginning of “Promises, Promises,” when the facial expressions of both performers indicate a dialogue without them actually saying anything (roolin 31:26). These small details make the overall performance livelier and more engaging.
Altogether, the concert succeeds in entertaining the audience because of three factors. The overall structure does not allow the audience to tire and prevents sudden mood swings. Salvant’s nonverbal language and voice range accentuate dramatic moments in each song. Fortner’s artistic behavior strengthens Salvant’s singing and adds more variety to the performance. Together, Salvant and Fortner manage to deliver an engaging and entertaining performance while utilizing the most opportunities of their vocal-pianist duo.
Work Cited
“Cécile McLorin Salvant and Sullivan Fortner | NYPopsUp, Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park 5/21/2021.” YouTube, uploaded by roolin, 2021.