Seydurah and Her AvecMoi Blues Band Heat Up Dreiser Auditorium for July 18th Tunes on Tuesdays Concert

BY LAURETTA J. JAYSURA

Nearly a ‘washout’ due to the severe weather along the Northeast coast, but “Seydurah and Her AvecMoi Blues Band’’ roared into Co-op City and would not be stopped. They took over the Dreiser Auditorium and gave the audience a show to be remembered at the July 18th Tunes on Tuesdays summer concert, co-sponsored by Council Member Kevin Riley and the Riverbay Fund.

“I met this young lady when I was in the hospital,” said Michelle Sajous, Riverbay Community Relations director, in her introduction, “and I wanted to see her live. She has a voice ‘outta this world,’ and she’ll sing a little bit of both R&B and Blues. I know you will like her.”

Lead singer and song stylist Seydurah introduced her unique band members “AvecMoi” and went right into performing. Without intermission, she belted out the ‘blues’ from a low guttural tone, up past mid-range and higher from beginning to end. She admitted, she’s been called “protégé” of the late Billie Holiday. Seydurah is also a musical storyteller which she uses to incorporate some of her life’s stories into her songs, especially with her rendition of the James Brown classic, “It’s a Man’s World.”

At one point in her act, she came off the stage saying, “I like to feel and be close to my audience.” Sparse as it was, most likely due to the weather and the concert being moved indoors, those who did brave the elements to attend appreciated the connection and applauded and joined in with a few dance steps