Abbey Lincoln--Goddess of Jazz

I was introduced to Abbey Lincoln's music late in life. I was a junior in college and heard her music and played it for one of my classes as some sort of jazz presentation. I didn't know the voice or the format and one of my peers kindly informed me that it was the great Abbey Lincoln. I was hooked since that day. Ms. Lincoln passed away this month and left a huge void in the jazz world. Ms. Lincoln was committed to her art and it showed in the 1999 album, "Wholly Earth", a true mastery of music and lyrics sung with verve and realism. A true storyteller, Ms. Lincoln provided the jazz community with music ranging from avant garde civil rights era recordings to the equally powerful but more introspective work of her later years. Ms. Abbey Lincoln, I will miss your musical stylings and that voice of love, yearning and regret.