It only takes two words to define soul. And those two words are Etta Jones. With each lyric that glides from her distinctive voice, you not only hear it, you feel it. On this program Etta Jones joins Billy Taylor and his trio on stage at the Kennedy Center’s Theater Lab for an evening of songs and conversation with one of "...the best kept secrets in Jazz."

Dr. Taylor asks Ms. Jones when she first knew that she wanted to be a singer. "I think all my life" quickly comes the response. She says that her family’s earliest recollections are of a 3 year old Etta, standing in front of a mirror singing songs from the radio. But it was after she saw Billie Holiday for the first time that she knew that she wanted to be a singer. In fact, she says that it was the combination of Holiday & Thelma Carpenter as influences that created Etta Jones. Horn players, like Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Coleman Hawkins & Ben Webster were also influential to the young singer.

Like many singers growing up in New York City, Jones career took a pivotal turn with an appearance at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. Dr. Taylor prompts Etta to recount her "knee-knocking" debut. Etta was so nervous on stage that she began her song in the wrong key, and the audience immediately began to boo! After getting a second chance from the MC, Etta started and finished the song in the right key. A brief conversation with the bandleader Buddy Johnson after her performance led to her first professional touring gig with his band, beginning the following Friday night!

Etta Jones recounts her good luck at being "thrown together" with great musicians throughout her entire career. Musicians such as Art Blakey, Earl Hines, Benny Green, and Milt Jackson. But Dr. Taylor wants to know about her long association with one of his favorite tenor saxophonists, Houston Person. "They say...a lot of times singers and musicians don’t get along too well," relates Jones, "but, we got along famously." It worked so well, in fact, that their collaboration has lasted more than 30 years!

Dr. Taylor and Etta share a laugh over why she’s "....the best kept secret in Jazz." Why someone could have a record that sold as many copies as "Don’t Go To Strangers ," and a Grammy nomination and still not be known by more people is a mystery. Jones suspects it’s because there aren’t life size, cardboard statues of her in the record stores. If it worked for Diana Ross, why couldn’t it work for her, she concludes.

Those who do know Etta Jones, though, know her flair at phrasing a lyric. When Dr. Taylor asks Etta how she selects her music, the answer is simple. For Etta Jones songs are about the lyrics and telling stories. It’s why most of the songs she sings are ballads or are in comfortable tempos. She doesn’t do too much up-tempo music because she doesn’t want to stumble across the lyric. Jones’ lyrical touch is showcased with the trio on such tunes as "Where Are You," "I Laughed at Love," and "Fine And Mellow."

Dr. Taylor asks Ms. Jones to share some memories of working the clubs on 52nd street in New York City. They reminisce about clubs like The Three Dueces and The Onyx. "...It was just magic to me" remembers Jones, "to be surrounded by all these wonderful people that I never in my wildest dreams, thought that I would...meet or come in contact with."

The audience at the Theater Lab asks Etta Jones such questions as "Where did you get your style?", "Do you practice everyday?", and "How long did it take for you to feel comfortable singing jazz?." Her answers are thoughtful, humorous & surprising, as she offers demonstrations and insights into her unique approach to jazz singing, which she’s refined over the past 40 years.

Other songs featured on the show include: "Sunday," "Somewhere In My Life," What A Wonderful World," "I’ll Be Seeing You."