Blossom Dearie - 'I'm Hip'

[archtopist]

The snipe made it hard for me to enjoy this like I expected to.

[arnie409]

An amazing performer. She can do it all. She makes it look so easy and I

love her scatting!!

Arnie Fox

[MissGypsyPearl]

Yeah she was known as a grumpy diva, ( I saw her live years ago and she just calmly kinda insulted and patronised the audience as if it was totally ok) but thats just who she was, and those eccentric songs wouldnt have come out of other 'nicer' Jazz singers...

[godfreyih]

She was a delightful singer but god, she was a mean-spirited and miserable old bag in one-on-one situations. Rude is simply not the word.

[joni4749]

I guess Blossom had to work fast! By the time she got someone to stop the "photographer" ... they could have taken 20 shots. Bet it unnerved her somewhat too ... she had to perform immediately after that.

[johnnysongdujour]

perfect - and what diva can't point her finger at a presumptuous punter? Genius!

[megadisneyfan2]

R.I.P. blossom dearie! you sang great in schoolhouse rock

[stevippinuk123]

Do you think she had the photographer rubbed out after the show?

[VincentValdemar]

Since 9/11 I can't get any Silk Cuts to save my life!.. Government sucks :'(

[silvanusslaughter]

You go, girl. I love her, Class class class through and through. She was strong to tell them to put away the gadget.

[ColumbiaPerna]

She lost the audience as soon as she pointed nastily at the photographer -- after that nobody was niterested in what she sang.

[KaRidder234]

@ColumbiaPerna ∽∽ Yeah, of course, no one applauded 'cause she lost her audience after she said only "no pictures are allowed in here." LOLZ ;) ∽∽ Bravo, Blossom! You're indeed one of the hippest cats around.

[haasgomez1]

Loved her, saw her several times at the Ballroom in NYC. But that pictures comment ruined "I'm Hip" for me...definitely NOT Hip!

[millvalleyrn]

i have to learn the lyrics ... a great pairing of artist and song

[KVID1000]

Originally a very witty and pithy piece. This seems an overly self regarding death knell of all that was vibrant in her heyday.

[roblettinVa]

She didn't take no mess, when we saw her in NYC she snapped at a guy for having his foot on the stage.

[davevanfunk]

Ha ha. She changed "Playboy" to "People". How could squeaky clean ever be hip -- but she pulls it off. Good old Blossom!

[GR33NFLAM3]

Dood! She is gangster for real.

[Lmyers113]

I intended to find some wonderful piece of music, but was so turned off by her reaction to the obvious overzealous fan that it tainted the performance.

[NyceTuneG]

amazing.....blossome deatie ihas to be my favourite outta the fermale jazz

[NyceTuneG]

amazing.....speechless

[TheFrenchrussian]

I remember the Time when Miss "Blossom Dearie" played at Ronnie Scotts in London. She always wore white, the piano was white. The Club was always packed. She was well received in London.

Thanks for downloading .

[searcherboy]

I like how she shuts down the photographer without any fuss, then gets on with the song. That's the way to do it. Good for her.

No photography at live performances is standard procedure. To those who think otherwise - have you ever sung on stage or acted in a professional stage production? Photo-taking, especially with flash, is a no-no. It's distracting and disrespectful to the audience members seated near the photographer, and it's EXTREMELY distracting to the performers.

[millvalleyrn]

duh! if photography IS allowed, can you imagine 200 bulbs going off in your face when you're trying to create a mood and give the people what they came for?

critics of her behavior obviously do not perform publicly... take the hint and shut it.

[tedrickenator]

Can you imagine how distracting it would be to perform live on stage with a person shooting pics?

She is remarkably composed and performed perfectly *after* having to deal with that -- what a pro.

[BlossomDearieDotCom]

Puts a smile on the face of those who really knew her, because that was Blossom!

[bob4247]

I first heard Blossom in the mid-sixties. And she was and continued to be incredible.

[tyjeffries]

Its interesting how women like Blossom, Judy and Marlene got away singing from the Man's point of view. Its interesting..a slight transgender twist on things...Men dont do that generally... I am glad to see she has as much problem with her mic stand as I do when I am singing and playing

But yea mr camera man... you dont mess with Blossom!!! lol

x

[tregibbs]

She wasn't rude. Any sort of recording equipment (i.e tape recorders, cameras, etc.) are not allowed in concerts or concert halls for obvious reasons. The person she reprimanded was a jackass. Glad she said something.

[BettyHuttonFan]

@tregibbs I know exactly what you mean, about her saying something. There aren't many performers who would actually speak to someone during the show about cameras, I was surprised, but in a good way :)

[ColumbiaPerna]

@tregibbs IT WAS RUDE! She is the talent on the stage - she should not have done that -- it made everyone uneasy.

[KaRidder234]

@ColumbiaPerna ∽∽ No, it wasn't rude; it was a crystal clear advice.

[tregibbs]

@ColumbiaPerna As a fellow performer, I can guarantee you that the RUDE part was someone taking a picture during her performance. Blossom Dearie was RIGHT ON by reprimanding the ignorant audience member, reminding them that NO PICTURES are allowed. It's distracting not only to the performer, but to other audience members as well. You obviously have no clue about proper theater etiquette...

[silvanusslaughter]

@ColumbiaPerna She's the talent, not a slave or a jukebox.

[Katimashi]

tell that due NO PICS IN HERE!!! I love it. Born in the wrong time.

[clowninacarnivaltown]

she ain't lyin' she really is hip and just lays it out there like no man's business. woman groove man!

[MrMichaellola]

Besides the trademark song-her instruction to the audience about no photos

is pure Blossom. <3

[Aceload]

Huge Blossom fan but I found this performance so depressing compared to the version on the Diva Series album. It's supposed to be a fun happy song and it comes across here as sterile and subdued. Maybe its just a stiff audience...

[madelrcardona]

@Aceload i completely agree!! it's not as powerfull and actually the "no pictures in here" line set me off in the first place... i love her still!

[alchada]

wonderful ......

[tantrick]

I still love here, the love attitude about "no camera" is totally appropriate. Bought her a red wine and talked at her bar where she performed before. the story is tooo goood to be told... I think she is sooo cool.

[BlueCougar]

Taking pictures when you aren't allowed is rude, not reminding people that taking pictures isn't allowed. Why do SOME people always think that rules are only made for other people than them?

[tryjzz]

This was performed at the 'Silk Cut Jazz Festival' in Cork, Ireland in 1983.

[ajbeatlemama]

I love this song and am hoping to have it arranged for my quartet...Anyone know what year this performance is from? 

[grenadian11]

Great Artist with a special gift, she sang for the public and her supper but was a very private person, believe it or not but back to this jem; Ms. Blossom Bravo and outstanding!

[grenadian11]

Bravo!

[Josefesque]

Oh, anyone who's ever seen Blossom perform in a club has at one time or

another witnessed her stern lectures to the audience. Don't mess with Miss

Blossom, is all that she means to tell us.

[einekleineblues]

Of all piano vocalists, Blossom is by far my favourite. Her singing is amazing - every note bang in tune and she always tells a story - you hear every word. Every song is about the music and the words - never about Blossom Dearie. She is a true artist, conveying art, not her personality.

Now we come to her piano playing. Instinctively, she always gets it right - never too much or too little. A very gifted player, she never falls to the temptation of playing in a florid way. Musical genius.

[scatmando]

@einekleineblues In jazz piano sometimes less is better, Blosom had it to a T.

[americangalbasseyfan]

Blossom Dearie used to appear at a popular supper club years ago. (I can't recall exactly where.)

[emilieopera]

i don't think she was being rude at all. the person with the camera was the rude one. cameras are very distracting...especially when they're not allowed.

[duvalmenina]

that isn't really rude --it was rude of them to be taking pictures when you aren't allowed to in the first place.

[yescarycan]

she must of told them to 'shut the fuck up' too,because that audience was dead!!!

[mimifamily1]

she's very cute!!!!!

i love Blossom..... huggg

[misstweaty]

for me.... it is time we called out those pic takers when they have been asked NOT TO TAKE ...WELL DONE I SAY.

[thresholden]

The no pictures comment set the wrong tone for the song. The audience is too scared to laugh and too tense to enjoy what is suppose to be a light self deprecating song. Instead Blossom comes off as snotty. Not a wise decision, the introduction was too stiff.

[Swayzee68]

Wow, I wish I hadn't seen that -- I think I like her less. I mean, yes it is rude to take a picture when you've been asked not to, but she needs to let someone else handle that stuff. She was like a mad mama (and I get scared when my mama is mad!) And I couldn't concentrate on the song. You should edit that part out so that we can just enjoy the song.

[grai]

I think thats why the audience didnt laugh at this funny song! Like you, they were like :O all the way through it!

JAW DROP!!

[scatmando]

@Swayzee68 I dont think editing the part out will make this take on this song any better, I love BD and hate ignorant photographers, but she killed the tune before it started and gave of a real bad vibe. She was right to pull the aforementioned prick up, but it was a weird way to introduce a light uplifting song. I agree with tresholden on this one.Even the greats can get it wrong at times. But god bless you BD R.I.P

[Swayzee68]

@scatmando -- You're right. What bummed me out about it was that I only really knew her from "Schoolhouse Rock" and had never thought to look her up and see if there were videos of her performing (I had actually assumed she was black until I saw this video of her). So this video was my introduction to Blossom Dearie. Great! LOL :) So I'm glad you wrote; I'll try not to judge her on this video alone!

[MrDrewlips]

I don't like it when performers abuse their audience and it does happen but this is not an example ot that. I saw Jack Elliott recently and when Jack saw someone preparing to take a pic he threatened to get off the stage. This was after the mc had announced no pictureswere to be taken. Does Jack saying this make him "difficult"? If the audience member decides to disrespect the performer by intentionally taking a pic after having been specifically asked not to do so, it's his/her funeral.

[grai]

I agree

she handles badly though

It has spoiled my impression of her

[Swayzee68]

@MrDrewlips -- I agree, but I think that you can try to remain gracious and composed if you're on stage -- maybe even have a funny line ready for just such an occasion (I mean big deal -- someone has a picture of you. Nice to be loved?). But the discipline needs to fall on theater management. That's what bouncers are for ;)

[oldcremona]

Bill Reed put it this way..."To say she is "difficult" is like saying Catherine Deneuve is French."

Google his "Tales of Tiny Terror" for the inside story on the real Blossom.

[grai]

Just looked that up

wow - she was a total nightmare

did she do all the voice overs because she couldnt get club work?

I found it odd that someone with such artistic integrity was doing Calvin Klein ads in the 90's

Sometimes people no matter how brilliant start to struggle because no-one wants to deal with them - it happened to Judy Garland towards the last 15 years of her life - genius or not - nothing was worth the crap

But I may be wrong

thanks so much for the google info!!

[olafreinhardweyer]

Perhaps they are just the polite and silent type but the audience in this vid sucks! Such a fun song, how can you not laugh?!?

[Statick1]

It's simple....they're NOT hip. LOL! Still I hear you though. The way Blossom frames the jokes and nuances, its hard not to laugh.

[olafreinhardweyer]

I never heard Blossom before youtube. She blew me away instantly. Shes really unique. I another vid i hear a talking, she is a bit older in that and you can hear it too. She second she starts singing she has that same voice she always had. You might say It Amazes Me :P And there I like she so much often honors the song authors too. Hey, browse for Claudine Longet. Try find "Nothing to losse" (which is a contradiction, because than you can't find it, haha!) Claudie soft too but VERY different.

[grai]

I think the "pictures arent allowed in here" comment shocked everyone into silence

[olafreinhardweyer]

Yeah and I think Blossom Dearie must have been really pi''ed, or she'd made a joke about it too.

Please forgive my english in earlier posts. Mustard .... must have been late :P

[rowlrich]

Hey.... it is always some a#*hole who tries to break the rules or thinks the rules don't apply. If you ever go to a concert in NYC or a playor musical... it is specifically stated NO CAMERAS or RECORDING DEVICES.. but you always have some JERK who thinks the rules don't apply.

[mikern2001]

She was quirky. So is Dave Frischberg. But enjoy the music and the performance.

[ronjazz69]

she was a wonderfull person, artist etc...and its quite shocking to use this "stage" to complain about a real artist. And a nice person! The jazzworld misses her!

[Jregga09]

She meant no cameras For real yall!!!

[ExistentiaDementia]

@Jregga09 I know right! Damn Blossom let 'em KNOW!

[iainhammer]

Grai - JD is an old friend of mine from my London days (I now live in California); I'm glad he's still as likeable as he always was. As for Blossom - sorry to say she was really not a very nice woman - as a devoted fan, I approached her after a show at Ronnie Scott's in London to thank her for a wonderful evening and she snarled at me 'who the hell are you???' I felt punched in the stomach,. Then she started berating the management that the MJQ (also at the club) had bigger billing than her.

[wilsp]

@iainhammer oh the pain when a hero is not a hero after all lol the nasty peice of work!! :'(

[grai]

Iainhammer - love that story - lol - " who the hell are you " ?? Honestly!!

I know its crazy but I really have listened to MUCH less Blossom since I saw this clip and read the comments!

Its still brilliant music but somehow a huge part of the magic is slightly spoiled

[mjramsden13]

Love the singer, love the song, very witty lyrics by Dave Fishberg.

The audience at Ronnie Scott's 1966 live recording got the lyrics and laughed throughout. Was this Silk Cut audience heavily sedated?

[grai]

I think the "no cameras are allowed in here!" was said with such ferocity they were stunned into silence for the entire song

[zivaray]

I swear I've heard her voice on School House Rock music!!!!!!!!!!!

[R0B0TRON]

Figure Eight

[boulderfriend]

Correct! And if you remember "I'm Just A Bill" from that show, it was written by Dave Frishberg and sung by jazz trumpeter Jack Sheldon. The musical producer of the show was Bob Dorough, who has recorded with both Blossom and Frish.

[demjams]

Yep, yep. The song "Figure 8" has her singing. Funny, cuz her voice is a sort of corollary to Bob Dorough's (He wrote all the Multiplication Rock songs and sang most of them)

[JazzmanJibilla]

Oh Yeah. I love her work. RIP Blossom.

[MissDellaReese]

That little "no pictures are allowed in here" really threw me off. Had she said it in a carefree and sweet way... but she just stared at the poor guy/ girl.

But good performance. But it really ruined the moment, at least to me it did.

[clarkewi]

Interesting observation. I think artists are in the business of constructing an "image" in their audiences mind. Maybe that's actually their ONLY business. The songs, voice and instrumentation etc. are in the service of that creative process. Blossom always created a certain "dingy" character in my psyche - completely unthreatening. That comment revealed a different side to her persona (a bitch). What it shows is just how much of an illusion that image is. Makes me wonder about Obama????

[grai]

I know I'm over-reacting a little but since seeing this I havent been able to enjoy her music half as much!!

this shattered the illusion I had of her

[clarkewi]

Shows she's human not personal posession of her fickle audience (remember when Dylan went electric?) At the end of the day, she DID create this wonderful character in her songs (Sandra Dee on steroids..) So it IS A PART of her personality, just not ALL of it. She's really there to make a buck. Maybe they didn't pay her enough? It's all art anyway - illusion. YOU and I are the ones creating the persona, not her. Actually, this is a great performance. She gave em there money's worth ehh??

[grai]

yeah - its a great rendition - she's so skilled with such a light subtle style

notice that the crowd sat in silence tho!

and all the other versions I've heard of this they laugh all the way through - I think the audience were as shocked as we were!

[clarkewi]

I'm beginning to wonder if Blossom started out as a first grade teacher and did this schtick to entertain the kids. Then another teacher heard it and said, "Wow, you could be a star!". So she treats the audience like grade school kids???? Stranger things have happened....

[grai]

or maybe she had to make a living singing after she lost her teaching job for frightening the children to death!

[clarkewi]

Ha! You've nailed it! Now we know how she got into show business! She was a mean fourth grade piano teacher!!!

[grai]

hehe!

thats hilarious!

Unfortunately she occasionally forgot where she was and reverted to the classroom mind-set addressing the audience!

[clarkewi]

I'm sure her manager (probably her "pussy whipped" husband) wasn't happy. What do they call that ? a "gaff"?

[grai]

yes - or a Public Relations blunder

lol

it must have been a backstage "palm-to-face" moment for her agent!

there goes next year's Silk Cut booking...

[clarkewi]

Ha! Very funny. Reminds me of when I was a kid living in NYC back in the fifties. My mom was dating a host from one of the "kiddie shows" and I met him outside of the "mind fantasy" I had from watching his show. He was MEAN and swore like a sailor! I was devastated! He blew my whole image!!! Could never watch cartoons again....

[grai]

We have a miserable mean comic in the UK called Jack Dee who's persona is bitter and dark

he used to live near me and walk his dog and he's laid back and friendly and smiley

so sometimes it works the other way

But the rule is you have no way of telling what famous people are really like

I've always wondered what Tom Cruise's number is all about - but we'll never know

maybe one of the adopted kids will spill the beans in a "Mommie Dearest" type book!

"Tommy Dearest" !

[crapfulvideo]

I know what you mean! I imagined her as a sweet, kind lady. I just heard her on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland, and she said once she saw her stop in the middle of the song and tell people to be quiet. Sweet little voice, maybe a meanie.

[gycurtischicago]

@clarkewi What a complete loser you are that you would call this Artist a bitch because someone in the audience thought they were entitled to a picture. How very common of you.

[tombradley]

I had a friend who attended her performance maybe 35 years ago, so this was not the trend, but in a far back row she singled him out and gave him hell for smoking a cigarette.

Of course, Glenn Gould only gave interviews over the telephone so she did not have a lock on eccentricity.

Ever hear Orson Welles tape of his recording the voice over for an English pea commercial? Now THAT's something.

[mikern2001]

She made it very clear, that no picture taking was allowed when she performed. She concentrated on what she was doing, and no doubt found it distracting when people would talk or take pictures. Plus the audience could enjoy the performance without distraction. She had a wonderful, tiny voice, and every nuance, could be appreciated if people would not talk, during her performances. She wasnt banging on a guitar or drums, but playing intimately, even when in a large hall.

[vasilistitan]

holy jesus, mother of jesus, dad(s) of jesus (both), aunt of jesus all the relatives to jesus, what is that?

[kozmicow]

her voice is always sooo young all the time!!!!

i dig the way she gives that shutup call...she's lovely

[chachadynamite]

Sadly it's not her request to obey the no pictures policy that surprises me, it's her delivery of the message, especially as she points and stares at the offender, very cold. Still, I absolutely love her.

[beeb1421]

i'm a fan of blossom but i agree she's rude here.

She's good ,but she aint no Ella.

[darkoanton5]

@beeb1421 Screw those people who think they can take pictures even when they know they are not allowed to. I see people do it with video nowadays and are surprised to get a rude remark.

[EddieLandsberg]

@beeb1421 If they announce no pictures are allowed (because its annoying to have flashes going off when you're playing) and some jerk decides he has to take pictures, what's wrong with telling him to cool it? - - especially back then when the flashes really blinded you for a few secs.

[aknowneemus]

@EddieLandsberg you know she could have said it in a different tone/way.

[UglySean]

@beeb1421 How about cameras but no flash photography? I mean it's obvious all the admirers. How can one not want a memento?

Unless she was just trying to uphold policy of the establishment where she performed.

[aknowneemus]

@UglySean Actually the "no pictures in here" line she started 35 yrs. earlier when she was playing piano bars in new york and paris. It isn't exclusive to this performance. I guess she just hated having flashes go off while she was in the middle of a song.

[witheyeslikethese]

Either way, her saying 'no pictures...' is rude.

[ivanofna]

I don't get it why? When someone does not want someone taking a picture of them, it is not rude, it is even suported by the law. Saying no pictures is normal. Anyway, as you can see, she was recorded for televising anyway! No need for inferior documentation.

[smithw5]

@witheyeslikethese. it's not rude. if you had a clue what it's like to be a professional musican then you'd understand why she said that.

[smithw5]

@witheyeslikethese. before the wheels came off in the digital age and everything was posted for free on you tube, pro artists had to protect their art themselves, every step of the way... and even with this self-protection it's still a constant struggle. Of course, nowadays, these protective measures are rendered useless, there is no way an artist can compete with the digital-bootleg age. (but no one told that to keith Jarrett, you wanna see someone rude, go check out one of his shows)

[spiffynatlee]

you guys are going crazy because she said no pictures are allowed in here? damn.. well it doesnt really affect how much i like her music. so you all can keep having fits just b/c she didnt want her picture taken

[vjfibro]

she's not underrated, she just isn't that good. and she's rude.

[coowlekikker]

Right on.

She's good, but not that good.

[brike2001]

Thank you for making this video available. I am a great fan of hers. Hope she rests in peace. I envy the angels who can hear her now.

[coowlekikker]

Gee Louise,

no wonder she's underated. She looked like a freakin' schoolteacher, 'punishing' that photographer. A real jazzmusician respects liberty, to take pictures at a public event is a liberty no one can take from you. You would never see Ella Fitzgerald or Mel Tormé doing a thing like that.

You really disappoint me Blossom.

[grai]

this is the down side of youtube!

You get to see footage of your heroes but sometimes they're not anything like what you thought!

Joni Mitchell is TOTALLY different to how I have imagined her (and loved her) for 35 years in the footage on youtube being interviewed she's quite unlikeable and a bit nuts and angry and arrogant

same thing with this little revealing moment of a rather unpleasant side to Blossom Dearie I never dreamed would be there

still - you can't have it both ways!

[Silvervest]

@grai It was just a quick remark, nothing that really provides insight into her entire character as a whole. Besides, my guess is that it was a flash camera (just a hunch) I fully understand the conditions of not having strobe lights constantly in the faces of the jazz preformers. That and it's disruptive to the audience members around them.

[grai]

@Silvervest If you cant handle the pressures of live shows dont do live shows!

I was talking with Eileen Atkins after her performance of The Night of The Iguanas at the National Theatre and she said to me "Did you hear that woman coughing? It was driving me crazy!" Yet I got no indication Eileen could even hear the woman and her performance was amazing

In ANY live performing - you cant get nasty about things you cant control its not realistic

This put me off Blossom Dearie a year ago

[Silvervest]

@grai So what is the theater supposed to do, ban uncontrollable bodily functions? This is unreasonable and most performers (your friend included) should know this, but when you have someone bringing a camera where prohibited and flashing it from the audience and potentially shining it in the preformers eyes while they are trying to do a soft jazz song, that is no good. The artist who perform here should feel comfortable under the conditions they work, that mood could reflect on the performance.

[grai]

@Silvervest I have never seen an artist speak to an audience member like this in my life it just doesnt happen

all live performing good or bad is about taking the conditions and being professional

thats why its called SHOW business

what you are showing and the difficulties you are feeling are two different things if you are professional

imagine every singer dancer actor comic speaking like this to the audience when they encounter something that bothers them!! Its absurd

[slender1]

I went into the Village Vanguard with my Lieca swinging from my neck. Ms.Gordon (the owner) WARNED ME not to take any pictures. I told her not to worry..I understood the policy. The performers don't like it. Jazz is not easy. It LOOKS like show business but its not really. It's an Art-form. Thats why so many go hungry. You don't hear their music on memorial day or july 4th gatherings or inaugurations etc.. Their just stuck with their role of NEEDING to fashion truth out of life around them/us.

[jusefina88]

"no pictures allowed in here" i thought she was taking the piss :D guess not... geeze

[ErictheJazzer]

I was so very sorry to hear of the passing away of the glorious Blossom. She was/is a true jazz original. An underated jazz pianist, her singing style was unique. An unforgetteable performer. An unforgetteable woman.

[ThirdTimeChangedKBA]

Sorry to hear this Schoolhouse Rock singer died. But I'm happy she's in heaven.

[miker2001]

She also did not like talking during her performances. She did not want to be distracted by picture taking or talking. She would stop if there was too much talking. Good for her. It was amazing how much more you could hear, if the audience would simply be quiet. Every nuance of her singing could be savored.

[grai]

Great rendition but it usually gets loads of laughs all the way through...

Maybe the audience was as shocked as I was at how unpleasant she was about someone taking her picture

I'm a massive fan of her music but I think the amount of rage behind the comment and the horrid face she pulled afterwards was really mis-judged

Especially when you THEN want to go over to the piano and expect everyone to find you rinky-dink and cute!!

[dogranch]

When I met Blossom in 2004 she was very sweet. My wife took our picture a few times and Blossom got up from her seat and said "let's take a good one!"

[gattameezer]

Beautiful video! And if no photos were allowed, I admire that she stands her ground. I've read that she always insisted on her privacy too. And that should be respected. Performers owe the audience a good performance, that's all.

[dadafontana]

WOW! Great post of a Dearie performance BRAVO!

[ChelseaLoveBaker]

No pictures are allowed in here.

[tholu67]

Thanks for posting this. I like Blossom Dearie a lot. But her comment about 'No pictures allowed in here' suits to something I've read about her recently, being not an easy and nice person to handle...And here she doesn't seem to be at ease with herself at all...and she seems to have projected that own inner uneasiness at her environment regularly...Like Shirley Horn once said about her after she visited her backstage: "Seems she has locked herself away and can't find the key"...

[jimfryer123]

Here's some advice I once received from an elder: Don't gossip, and don't pass judgement. tholu67, take it in good faith.