by Max Newman
One of the most marvelous things about live music in Cleveland is the wonderful and unexpected places that it takes you. Places where one would not expect to witness joy-inducing song, places that make you feel as though music, in this city, is truly everywhere.
One such location is the third floor of the Cleveland Public Library, on an expansive landing between two gloriously intricate staircases. It was here where I watched singer-songwriter Marye Lobb perform a series of heartfelt and powerful songs on the afternoon of Saturday, April 6.
The concert was part of the Music At Main Series, described by its presenter — CPL’s Fine Arts Department — as leveraging “the beauty of the library’s public performance spaces and the talent of musicians from every point on the musical spectrum.”
I was instantly able to tell that this concert would be unlike any other that I had been to previously. The lobby of the Fine Arts Department floor was elegant, and brilliantly lit. Chairs were laid out quite close to the performance area, giving the space an intimate, comforting feel. The concert was also free and open to the public — people wandered in and out, staying to watch or just dropping by to survey the scene. The casual atmosphere added to the personability of Lobb’s performance.
The show itself was absolutely lovely. Lobb, dressed in a striking all-orange outfit, gifted the audience with a plethora of mostly original songs, performed on several different instruments. Impressively, she showed a great deal of proficiency through all the instrumental changes, finding great grooves on the guitar, then on the baritone ukulele and the piano.
Lobb also displayed a beautiful voice, and a versatile one at that. At times, it felt as though it was drifting ethereally over the music, subtly complementing chords and melodies, while at other times, it was more biting and pointed, carving out melodies for itself.
Lobb’s songs contain a great range of moods. There were slow, heartfelt tunes full of deeply personal lyrics, such as the visceral Iceberg, perhaps the highlight of the day with its shimmering melody. Other songs were more upbeat and full of outright joy, such as the opener, Music, My Love. Much of the setlist had a distinctly Latin feel, such as the tune Naranjas, featuring a jazzy chord progression and lyrics that daydream of eating oranges on the beach.
Another highlight was the sense of audience engagement here, at times even full-on audience participation, with sing-along elements incorporated into the show. Lobb seemed very aware of both the setting she was performing in and the audience she was performing for, and this consciousness went a long way in terms of adding to the thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere.
It was a lovely afternoon of music, and one that would not be possible without the brilliant work of the Cleveland Public Library. It was hard for listeners to leave without a smile on their face.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com April 15, 2024.
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