by Deanna Byck
images by Brandon Patoc
The rustle of the band tuning their instruments followed by silence and then all eyes on
Fischer
A sip of water. A nod. One by one ethereal crystal notes begin to rise up towards the heavens striking harmonic vibrational chords in my heart.
I am in a space of pure light. The cobwebs in my mind begin to clear, and I recognize what sounds like Breath of Heaven – but is it? A few more notes, and I open to a healing on a level I never dreamed possible at a performance. Indeed, it is the words from Amy Grant’s song – yet with a different tempo, a different tune. An interpretation so light and gentle I feel as if I am cradled by the Madonna.
That is the first five minutes of the set. While I am bonding with angels, Fischer uses the song to “get into her own skin”, to gauge the audience, to set the mood and to get into her “flow”. And flow she does. Performing barefoot and in rich jewel-toned flowing silk, she is anything but the high-heeled leather-clad backup singer I once saw perform with the Rolling Stones. About to “kiss 60”, Lisa Fischer oozes freedom with a vocal range that starts from the soles of her feet and soars to the rafters. Her combination of vocals and interpretive dance is electrifying and seductive as she floats between the band and the audience.
The mood shifts slightly as Fischer begins to weave magic into recreations of the Rolling Stone’s Wild Horses and Peggy Lee’s Fever where she comes off the stage to dance. She is one of Odysseus’ Sirens captivating her audience – Fischer has us wrapped around her finger while we are mesmerized by her prowess.
Mesmerizing her audience at the RIO in Santa Cruz, CA
More playful songs follow including the Rolling Stone’s Miss You, Jumpin Jack Flash, Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love and Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll. The Band’s creations are both bold and original with wisps of influences from global villages. At times Fischer’s covers are not recognizable until she gets to the chorus. But when we “get it” she nods encouragement stopping to tell us in the middle of her song, “yup, you got it.” By now she is pure joy. When she talks to the audience her voice is deep and soft like well-tanned leather to match a smile that raptures. Flirty, teasing – she even stops to throw on lipstick between songs.
An audience-melting delivery of her own Grammy winning, “How Can I Ease the Pain?” highlights myriad raw emotions in her face; eyes closed to reflect enlightenment and suffering simultaneously. Hyperbole aside, it is a spiritual encounter. The first time I experienced Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton, I was moved so deeply I actually bought tickets to her next concert in a different state. From there I was hooked. Each concert experience is slightly different. Fischer’s voice is like wind; at times swirling and dancing lightly and at times gusting and weaving deeply in and out of canyons, but it is always an unpredictable pleasure.
Lisa Fischer takes us on an enchanted journey. She closes with a satisfyingly long Gimme Shelter – a rendition so haunting that the hair on the back of my neck rises to full attention. Magically, the song, morphs into a soft acapella audience engaging chant on the word LOVE; collectively transporting us into a space where all is possible and gently cradling us back to the present enfolded in her love.
Lisa Fischer is a critically acclaimed singer and songwriter. Fischer was featured in the Oscar-winning documentary Twenty Feet From Stardom. Shortly after the film premiered to wide acclaim, Fischer launched her solo tour with Grand Baton, mesmerizing audiences world-wide.
To learn more about Lisa, visit her website
lisafischermusic.com