The 29th Annual Houston International  Jazz Festival took place Saturday, August 3, at the University of Houston Cullen Performance Hall.  “An electrifying weekend affair” best describes the legacy of August Jazz Month and the 50th Houston Jazz Month season.

The concert, “A Night of Jazz, Keys, and Song” spotlighted featured artists, Pianist Alex Bugnon and Songstress Oleta Adams. We spoke with Adams backstage in her dressing room before the start of the show.

How wonderful was it to meet the beautiful songstress known for such signature hits as ‘Get Here’. She was as gracious as we imagined when she stood to greet us. The funny part, she thought she hugged the same person twice before realizing we were twins.  Adams with 8 or 9 albums has a plethora of songs to choose from when called to perform at a venue, the Houston Jazz Festival was no exception. There she named musicians who contributed to her sound and those who were in attendance to accompany her on stage. It’s where she shared that she and her husband have been married 25 years. He’s a drummer whose also played in her band for some 30 years. Adams goes on to talk about the tune that made her famous; written and originally performed by Brenda Russell, Get Here is very much a part of the five-time Grammy winner’s legacy. Though she credits Russell for doing a fabulous job singing the song lyrics, she’s aware her voice was meant to make the song her own. Symbolized in times of war, babies birth, funerals and weddings, its a timeless sound that crosses over many generations. Adams, admits that no matter what— she likes to laugh and feel good. So we asked the songstress when was the last time she laughed out loud? “Every day!” she responded. “I like to watch old sitcoms like ‘Frasier’ and ‘Mike & Molly’.” Something we found in common with a woman whose speaking voice is as beautiful as the songs she sings.

Watch the video interview with Oleta Adams here—

By Twins of Media

Feature photo: Oleta Adams.com