Cassandra Wilson: Blue Light 'Til Dawn (2LP)

Cassandra Wilson's visionary 1993 Blue Note debut Blue Light 'Til Dawn blended jazz, blues, folk and R&B into a unique sound that opened up new expressive possibilities for vocal jazz. Produced by Craig Street, the album's inventive instrumentation and Wilson's captivating vocal performances transformed songs by Robert Johnson, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and others. Cassandra Wilson refuses to be pigeonholed or categorized. Cassandra starts Blue Light 'Til Dawn with "You Don't Know What Love Is" and then moves into "Come On In My Kitchen" and "Hellhound On My Trail," both Robert Johnson covers. This is followed by rock compositions by Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell, then her own title song and the blues piece "Redbone" and a piercing version of "I Can't Stand The Rain." Of particular note is Cassandra's version of "Tupelo Honey" by Van Morrison, in which Cassandra inserts additional lyrics from "Angel" by Jimi Hendrix