Ravinia 2023 Issue 3

Andréa Burns Capathia Jenkins Morgan James Please share an early memory you have about these amazing songs. I remember hearing “You’ve Got a Friend” when I was a kid, probably 6th grade. I loved it immediate- ly. The melody, arrangement, and words all seemed to be in sync in a way that moved me. I loved the sentiment and hopefulness. With “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” Carole spoke for all of us young women, giving us language and license to own our womanhood. Which of their songs excite you as a vocalist? I am thrilled to be singing “Nobody Does it Better.” I get to celebrate Carly’s lyrics and storytelling paired with the music of Marvin Hamlisch. I knew and worked with him—I absolutely adore him. This song and arrangement is squarely in my wheelhouse, and I get to soar vocally, which is thrilling. Joni, Carole, and Carly’s songs have resonated in our collective consciousness for decades. How has your appreciation for this trio’s music evolved over the years? I feel like their music has always been in my life, since my early teens, and back then, I was learning and growing. As I’ve gotten older and have life experiences, I realize that these women helped me become the strong woman I am today. These songs live deep in my spirit, the anthems, the storytelling, the unapologetic way they all lean into their individuality and their artistry. I am indebted to these women, as I’m sure so many of us are. Please share an early memory you have about these amazing songs. I remember playing all of my mom’s records on the record player, and wanting to mimic everything I heard, and reverse engineer it. With her album Clouds , Joni taught me so much about harmony and layering background vocals and creating textures. It remains one of my favorites. Which of their songs excite you as a vocalist? I have sung Joni’s “River” many times, and it’s incredibly challenging and stark, and I love the exposed nature that you feel as a singer when you are inside that melody. Joni, Carole, and Carly’s songs have resonated in our collective consciousness for decades. How has your appreciation for this trio’s music evolved over the years? As a woman in the music business—albeit a much different music business then when they were com- ing up—I have even more respect for what they must’ve dealt with, in regards to sexism and favoritism along the way. The fact that they all rose to such heights, and were role models for other female musi- cians coming up, is really remarkable. Native Chicagoan Web Behrens has spent most of his journalism career covering arts and culture. His work has appeared in the pages of the Chicago Tribune , Time Out Chicago , Crain’s Chicago Business , and The Advocate and Chicago magazines. Please share an early memory you have about these amazing songs. When I had the fresh, absorbent cranium of a 9-year-old, my cool teenage cousin David asked me to learn all of the songs from The Best of Carly Simon album. He loved playing guitar, and he wanted to make his own version of the album he loved so much. David accompanied me as I mimicked Carly’s phrasing and style. The cassette recording we made is long lost, but in preparing for this concert, I discovered that I still know every word to all the songs on that album, even the ones I haven’t listened to since. They’ve been preserved in my brain for decades. Which of their songs excite you as a vocalist? I love Joni’s “He Comes for Conversation.” She scales octaves as she reckons with the ache of convincing herself that her affair with a married man is worthwhile. Joni was a master at painting with her voice; that’s why I love singing anything and everything of hers. Joni, Carole, and Carly’s songs have resonated in our collective consciousness for decades. How has your appreciation for this trio’s music evolved over the years? Incredibly, I have loved the music of all three artists since I was very young. Even then, the music was that good. As an adult, understanding the depths of the lyrics was mind-blowing for me. These ladies are poets whose contributions to society, like fine wines, only improve with age. RAVINIA MAGAZINE • JULY 17 – JULY 30, 2023 80