The Christine Spero Group presents
Spero Plays Nyro: The Music of Laura Nyro
April 6, 2023 at 8pm
Tickets: $50 Regular, $65 Premium
Members: $42.50 Regular, $55.25 Premium
Main Theater
In this heartfelt and moving tribute to Laura Nyro, singer/songwriter and pianist Christine Spero and her group/duo take the listener on an unforgettable journey through some of Laura’s most memorable songs. Classics like “Eli’s Comin'” “Wedding Bell Blues”, “Stoned Soul Picnic”, “And When I Die”, “Sweet Blindness,” “Stoney End”. Spero Plays Nyro reminds us that Laura’s music is poignant and timeless. The arrangements are hip, the vocals are beautiful, the musicianship is stellar. The exquisite arrangements are true to Laura’s originals but with many sweet creative touches, beautifully interpreted in the group’s own distinct style. Christine has fully recaptured Laura’s spirit and passion with beautiful renditions running the breadth and depth of Laura’s emotions.
Featuring Christine Spero /piano and vocal, Elliot Spero/saxes and percussion, Steve Rust/bass and Peter O’Brien/drums.
“I was called upon by Columbia Records to work with Laura Nyro in arranging and developing her legendary album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession so I can say with confidence that Christine Spero’s rendition of Laura’s work passes the litmus test with flying colors”….. – Charlie Calello, composer, conductor, arranger & record producer
“Christine Spero and I shared a bill and I knew that she was doing a tribute to my old friend Laura Nyro, but I wasn’t prepared for just how amazing Christine’s performance turned out to be. She was able to channel Laura with all the feeling and intelligence that the music warranted, but, at the same time, made Laura’s music her own.”- Steve Katz (Blood, Sweat and Tears and the Blues Project)
“”Excellent work and obviously a labor of love” – Felix Cavaliere
“You do this so good!” – John Sebastian
“Christine can play and sing Laura’s songs like few others. She knows this music inside out, and rises to the challenge on each song, singing with expressiveness and power. At times her voice sounds like she could be Laura’s twin sister! It’s such challenging music to sing, and she does it so beautifully. Christine is a very talented woman and I’m so glad she did such a beautiful job with my sister’s music” – Jan Nigro, Brother of Laura Nyro
“Christine Spero blew away any elitist music critic prejudices I may have had about a singer/songwriter devoting an entire evening’s performance to covers of another artist. Christine took the works of one of her early mentors, Laura Nyro, and recreated them in her own image. And what an image it was. This woman has a lover’s touch on piano, a jazz master’s vocabulary and a vocal splendor perfectly matched by a band that is nothing short of breathtaking” – Albany Times Union, The Saratogian, Troy Record, Nippertown