The sublime power of a consummate voice graces this edition of Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center. Dr. Taylor welcomes to the stage one of the great women of American song, Nancy Wilson. An extremely versatile singer, Wilson is clearly comfortable with R&B, great ballads, and the jazz repertoire. But she tells Dr. Taylor and the audience that she doesn't really consider herself a jazz singer. She reveals that she has often daydreamed about being stretched across a grand piano in an elegant gown and beguiling her audience with great song, in the classic manner of a saloon singer.

Having spent over 40 years investing her singular vocal instrument in great songs, Nancy Wilson clearly knows her way around this business. She treats the audience to numerous pearls of wisdom about her personal journey. A native of Chillicothe, Ohio, Wilson grew up in Columbus, where she had her own television show at the tender age of 15! Eventually she tried her hand at college, attending Central State University, though she confesses that she absolutely hated college life and knew that she was destined to ply her craft as a singer.

A superb balladeer, Nancy renders such classics as "The Very Thought Of You" and "My One and Only Love" with the trio. Dr. Taylor later asks her about the difficulties of singing a ballad and how she goes about selecting a song for her repertoire. Nancy is adamant that a tune has to be about more than "baby I love you" to enter her repertoire.

Nancy's and Dr. Taylor's engaging journey through the great American songbook encompasses "All of Me," "Foggy Day" and "Here's That Rainy Day." All are rendered in an improvisational manner, wowing the crowd in the process. When the conversation turns to some of Nancy's influences she notes male vocalists, emphasizing the incandescent voice of balladeer Little Jimmy Scott. The love in Nancy's voice is palpable as she describes her first encounters with Scott's voice.

A member of the audience asks how such a seasoned performer remains challenged. Yet another question discloses once again Nancy's preference for "saloon" singing or singing in clubs -- as opposed to concert halls or arenas, where she loses a personal connection with the audience. Yet Wilson extols the intimacy of the Terrace Theatre at the Kennedy Center, one of her favorite venues.

Nancy caps off the question segment by declaring herself first and foremost a song stylist determined not to be limited by jazz or pop singing labels. Throughout the program the "magnificent Miss Nancy Wilson," as our host refers to her on one occasion, enchants the audience with her singular voice and superb delivery of a lyric.