Photos and commentary by Howard Vigorita, Ragtime Press.
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Prior to the concert, we did a little exploring around the
neighborhood. This photo was taken within a block of the concert venue. Laura
Nyro lived in Ithaca for about one year. Upstate NY is definitely God's
country. |
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Backstage early in the afternoon before the performers
arrived for their sound check. They must have known we'd sneak in... and locked
the piano. |
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Laura's brother Jan Nigro opened the concert on solo
guitar with the piece And When I Die. |
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Piano player Molly MacMillan joined Jan to accompany
him as he sang Bill'y Blues |
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Molly MacMillan performed a number of piano/vocal
pieces solo: December's Boudoir, To A Child, Right To Vote, Tomcat, and
You Don't Love Me When I Cry. Molly also accompanied singer Margaret
Wakeley on piano for a number of her vocal pieces. |
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Singer Margaret Wakeley performed a number of pieces
accompanied by Molly on piano: I Never Meant To Hurt You, Luckie, and
He's A Runner. She was also joined by Jan Nigro singing: Sweet
Blindness, Lu, Stoned Soul Picnic, Goodbye Joe, Flim Flam Man, and
Stoney End. |
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Piano player and singer Margaret Dorn accompanied
singer Diane Garisto on her performances. Sometimes singing lead, other times
background vocals. Captain for Dark Mornings she performed solo. |
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Singer Diane Garisto was accompanied by Margaret Dorn
on piano, singing solo for Poverty Train and Mother's Spiritual.
And lead vocal to Margaret's backup on Brown Earth and Emmie. For
Woman's Blues Diane sang background to Margaret's lead. Then for
Christmas In My Soul, Diane and Margaret alternated their vocal parts.
What a team! |
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The entire cast performed ensemble on Time and
Love and Eli's Coming. And then returned for an encore performance
of Wedding Bell Blues. |
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Jan's wife Janice. |
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Laura and Jan's proud father, Lou Nigro. |
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After the concert, Jan came down and sat on the edge of
the stage sharing warm thoughts with all. |
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