Versatile performer Ernestine Anderson can deliver hope and disappointment, playfulness and sensuality, reflection and enthusiasm, swing and ballads and blues, whether backed by a trio or a symphony.
On Saturday, she’ll headline Edmonds Jazz Connection.
Anderson has received four Grammy nominations and was one of 75 women in the book “I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America.”
Music is too important to Anderson for her to retire at 75. “Can you imagine a world without music? I just can’t imagine it,” she said. “Music touches our emotions and can change your mood.”
Anderson continues to reach her fans. Her new CD, “Love Makes the Changes,” made it to the top five on the jazz charts.
Anderson has been at life’s crossroads on a number of occasions, but managed to turn negatives into positives. She was cruising on the star path in the late 1950s, appearing at the first Monterey Jazz Festival, featured in Time magazine, and named Best New Vocal Star by DownBeat magazine.
Then rock ‘n’ roll took over, crashing the jazz party and sending jazz stars, including Anderson, to Europe to live and work.
“Jazz has always been embraced by other countries, other than our own. But jazz is our heritage. It is the music of America, it was born here.
“I remember my first trip to Sweden. Some of the young kids knew more about me than I had forgotten. They know who you are, they learn about the music and the artists and everything. It can be frustrating.”
After a few years in London, Anderson returned to the United States, raised a family and studied Buddhism. As part of her Buddhist faith, Anderson chants.
“When you chant, you choose to have your life in rhythm with the universe. … When you chant, it allows you to see the things inside you that you need to change.
“It’s used instead of looking outside, blaming someone else for your misfortunes, or looking for someone else to make you happy.”
Anderson also chants before a concert. Chanting Daimoku means to recite the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra.
Anderson recently learned that she has attention deficit disorder. “I knew I had something, a problem, but I couldn’t put a name to it until recently. I saw it on TV and realized that’s me. Chanting helps me to focus.”
Anderson lives in Seattle. “Seattle has always been my home because my family was here. I felt that I had to travel and live other places in order to work. You’re always searching for that one thing that’s going to take you to where you want to be in this business.”
At one point Anderson had apartments in L.A. and New York until she realized a plane could take her anywhere.
There was a little more motivation.
“I decided to move back … when my daughter told me she was expecting my first grandchild. That made my decision to (come) home for good easy.”
Anderson just received the Impact Award from the Seattle branch of the Recording Academy.
“Pearl Jam was one of the recipients. My two oldest granddaughters were just so knocked out that they got to meet Pearl Jam.”
Ernestine Anderson
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