A dimly lit, spacious yet sultry house down in New Orleans in a neighborhood I'd be unable to name. Most are dancing without mercy for the wide wooden floorboards below them; some are simply standing still, mesmerized by the tattooed lady dressed in red who fans herself with a petite gloved hand. At first she calmly taps her foot. Then, taking a step forward, she opens her mouth and fills the thickened air with an even thicker timbre. A beautiful, sometimes fierce and sometimes delicate, vocalized emotion. Ever since I first listened to/danced to Meschiya Lake and the (at that time, nascent), Little Big Horns band at an informal ULHS 2009 Thursday late night dance in New Orleans, I've been in love. In love with the sound, the aura, the sheer force and feeling associated with Meschiya as a singer and artist.
In love, also, with her driving band, whose core members include St. Louis native Charlie Halloran on trombone, Jason Jurzak on bass/tuba, Mike Voelker on percussion, Russel Welch on guitar, and Ben Polcer on trumpet. Seeing, hearing, experiencing, Meschiya Lake and her backing band, a group dedicated to American jazz and blues tradition while also delivering in an innovative way, is to feel achievement in listening.
While you can hear her Monday nights at Mimi's and Tuesdays at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen, as well as on an almost nightly basis elsewhere in the Big Easy, Meschiya has also become one of the most recognizable female vocalists in the jazz dance/lindy hop scene throughout the country, most notably with bands such as Glenn Crytzer at the DC Lindy Exchange and Seattle Lindy Exchange and Tom Saunders' Tom Cats last year at Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and, of course, with her own band at events small and large.
Being a die-hard Little Big Horns fan as well as a loyal St. Louisan, I have to throw this out there: during the first weekend in November Meschiya will take St. Louis by storm at the Nevermore Jazz Ball & St. Louis Swing Dance Festival The event is known as a "celebration of dance at the confluence of jazz blues," so who better to frontline the show than Meschiya Lake?
She's been stealing hearts for years. It's about time she won some awards. That's why I'm sending an enthusiastic congratulations to Meschiya Lake for winning Best Female Performer in New Orleans last Monday evening at the Big Easy Awards. Here's what you may expect (although expecting is futile in this case!) the next time you're in New Orleans, or, if you're lucky, the next time she's in your hometown:
Meschiya, the powerhouse. New York City.
Meschiya, the contemplative demigoddess. At Mimi's. "Lucky Devil" was written by Jason Jurzak.
All of the above, and the dance band. Dancers Chance Bushman and Shani Brown on Royal Street.
You've probably not had enough. I encourage you to visit: http://www.meschiyalake.com/
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