A founding member of the sixties rock group, Patti Labelle and the Bluebells, singer/songwriter Sarah Dash opened her solo show at 54 Below with “I’m still Here.” Dash, at 67, no longer has the vocal range she did but knows how to perform. She’s breathy and jazzy. It’s apparent that her blues style was inspired by Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan. You can see and feel the influence in “What A Difference A Day Makes.”
She took us down memory lane with an energetic rendition of “Sinner Man” as she interacted with the audience which included former Bluebell, Nona Hendryx. She was supported by Terry Burns, her musical director on keyboard as well as outstanding musicians on bass and drums. Although she rambled a bit and explained that she still gets nervous on stage, she performed a song from the soon to be released film, “Continental” about the Continental baths, or as she referred to it as the nightclub of the streets in the sixties, where she performed and Bette Midler is believed to have gotten her start. Her performance was uneven as her energy waned but I would still recommend checking her out if you’ve never seen her on stage.”
A very spiritual Dash didn’t let the evening go by without putting in a word for her political advocacy and lobbying sideline and urging the audience to give time and attention to those less fortunate, for causes including breast cancer, HIV and mental illness. “There are a lot of challenges we need to fight,” said Dash. “I’m a living testimony. There’s always one mor e time if your dreams go bad