A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

There are two places that I wish I could been this week instead of California, but I just couldn't click the heels of my red Jimmy Choos enough times to get back to New York City to see my dear friend Greg Dunmore's mother (and client) Jo Thompson perform last Sunday at New York's famed and historic Blue Note Jazz Club, though I did get to see her brilliant performance at jazz supper club "The Iridium" a couple of months ago. The longtime Detroit chanteuse and pianist did two sets on October 29th with fellow Detroiters, the J.C. Heard Orchestra, directed by Walt Szymanski. At "a sleek and sexy 70-something", she may actually be the oldest act to headline at the Blue Note. I hear it was phenomenal and as I experience whenever I'm with her, she was forever young in her spirit, energy, and delivery. Jo - who is often described as a piano-playing Lena Horne - sprinkled her repertoire in tribute to the beloved legend. "As a female musician, Lena Horne is a wonderful example of impeccable style and sophistication within jazz music," says Jo. "It is my great pleasure to acknowledge Lena as having a major influence on what I do. She is the definitive class act. Thank you Lena." I say "Thank you Jo." Many don't know this, but "Jo Thompson" could have easily been as household a name as "Lena Horne". They came up during the same time, but "Jo" -- the first singer to perform composer Ron Miller's classic "For Once in My Life" -- put her act on pause for many years to raise her offspring, including my friend Greg. However, since it's never too late, she got her act together after they were all grown and on their own. And with Greg managing it all, Jo has been on the road on-and-off for years. This booking -- with oodles of cache -- sets a sparkling tone of things to come. And as feedback goes, one man in Jo's audience, who pointed out that he stumbled into this show via a listing on the internet, was overheard saying "I can't believe how great Jo was," the new fan exclaimed. "Not only is she a skillful piano player, but her voice is so great." He then, quickly morphing from fan-to-stalker, reportedly said he wanted to get a kiss from Jo. "Liza (Minnelli) kissed me on the left side," the enthusiastic man said. "Jo kissed me on the right side. I'm a happy man."

My personal MOTOWN favorite DIANA ROSS made many people down under happy this week. Other than California and New York, I wish I could have been in Australia with her as she began to perform the dates around a small, sold-out tour she's on there. After a ten-year absence away from the continent, my 62-year-old diva came to remind them why she's been named Billboard magazine's Female Entertainer of the 20th Century and pronounced by the Guinness Book of Records as the "most successful female artist ever". Reports say she enchanted Australia's audiences with amazing costumes and hit after hit after hit in great voice. Though word has it she didn't perform any of the new material she recorded on her current EMI/Angel release "I Love You" (still not available via a U-S label), she did enough of the '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s hits to keep the packed houses satisfied and on their feet.

Meanwhile, back here in the States, I listened to Diana's "I Love You" project as I drove a pair of rental cars in Santa Barbara and L.A. respectively. I got the chance to really shower my ears with and wrap my heart around this beautiful, inspired project. And she really does sparkle on it. I hope the album gets to the States. Word has it, there may be a "Valentine's Day" release here in the U.S. which would be appropriate as "I Love You" is filled with gorgeous remakes of classic and contemporary love songs including Heatwave's "Always and Forever", Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" (co-written by Diana's late brother Arthur "T-Boy" Ross), and - from "The Color Purple" Broadway musical - "What About Love?". Top CD. (http://www.dianaross.com/) for more information.

Meanwhile, as Beyonce, Janet, Christina, Ciara, Monica, Kelis, and the other young-to- middling (not quite over-the-hill) singers work for their piece of the market-share, there are some seasoned and legendary ladies out there who - like La Ross - are simply doing what tHey do and if you buy it, great. If you don't, you can't say they didn't give their fans another quality project to enjoy (But let me say this, if I hear about another #1 album from Rod Stewart or Barry Manilow - doing remakes and if I don't see our "great performers" get their just due at the top of the charts, I'm going to scream. Still, I digress...).

The short list of which I write includes: Miki Howard, who gave me the opportunity to sing and jam with her on stage during her July performance at Harlem Grill. She's just released "Pillow Talk: Miki Sings The Classics". From Captain & Tenille's "Do That To Me One More Time" to Natalie Cole's "Inseparable", Miki reminds us why she was so beloved in the first place during the days of "Come Share My Love" and "Love Under New Management".

Meanwhile, Cole, known for remaking America's Songbook, skews more contemporary with her current collection of remakes just the same. From Fiona Apple's "Criminal" to Des'ree's "You Gotta Be", this Grammy-winning diva hints at what she was vocally in the '70s (sans the heroin). And let Gladys Knight tell it, Diana (and Motown) stole the credit for the Jackson 5's discovery from her. So, on her new CD project "Before Me", she bites off of a beat on which Diana's had a stronghold since her Oscar-nominated turn as Billie Holliday in the hit film "Lady Sings The Blues". Lady Day's "Good Morning Heartache", "God Bless The Child", and "The Man I Love" --- along with nine other classics by the likes of Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, and Ella Fitzgerald --- are reinterpreted, according to Lady Knight to great effect. And all of these releases give me hope that maybe... just maybe... Miss Whitney Houston will comeback and not just as a photo op a la her appearance at the 17th annual Carousel of Hope Ball which she attended with her pygmalion Clive Davis, who says they are in the studio working on her new CD project. Our fingers are crossed and we're on our knees for the right thing to happen around Whitney, who --- hooked or crooked --- we will love. But wouldn't it be great to sing along with her on that love train?              

So you see? Our new generation of "DREAMGIRLS" are standing on some strong and resilient shoulders. They have no choice but to speak the names of Jo... Lena... Diana... Miki... Gladys... Ella... Dinah... Sarah... Billie... Whitney.... and when Janet is done competing with her breasts against the young girls (and instead, begins to elegantly and sexily use her "best" assets [READ: HER TALENT]), she is destined to join the number, and her name will be spoken too. And before we know it, we'll be saying the name: Beyonce... and Jennifer (Hudson that is...). Just Watch!