In the August 2015 issue of Chronogram, reviewer Seth Rogovoy raved about Spero Plays Nyro, area vocalist Christine Spero’s tribute to the music of legendary singer-songwriter Laura Nyro. Since this year marks the 50th anniversary of Nyro’s landmark 1968 album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, Spero has booked a special celebratory evening at Colony for April 7.
Nyro’s music fused pop, soul, jazz, and folk, and while her own records were acclaimed and influential, her songs reached more ears through the voices of others. Hit versions of her tunes were recorded by the Fifth Dimension (“Stone Soul Picnic,” “Wedding Bell Blues”), Barbara Streisand (“Stoney End”), Three Dog Night (“Eli’s Comin’”), Blood, Sweat & Tears (“And When I Die”), and others. Ironically, her own biggest hit was a cover of Carole King and Gerry Goffin’s “Up on the Roof.” For Spero Plays Nyro, Spero put together a crack band that includes her husband, saxophonist Elliot Spero, drummer Peter O’Brien, and bassist Scott Petito.
Hear Spero do Nyro in 2013:
The Christine Spero Group will present “Spero Plays Nyro” at Colony in Woodstock, New York, on April 7 at 7pm. Tickets are $20-$25. For more information, call (845) 679-7625 or visit http://www.colonywoodstock.com/.
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This article appears in April 2018.
