It was twenty years ago that mercurial singer Macy Gray broke through with her debut album On How Life Is. Gray garnered attention for her gravelly voice, original lyrics and use of humor to create perspective - and for the refreshing way she blended pop with soul and hip hop. Live, including at North Sea Jazz, Gray has proved time and again that she was born to perform. No matter how big the venue, this soul diva is better than anyone at creating an intimate bond with her audience. Gray recently released her tenth studio album Ruby, and happily she is just as mercurial as ever. Just watch the video clip of the single Sugar Daddy, in which the standard strippers and cigar-smoking guys, that every hip hop video of today must have, are presented in a way that kills any eroticism and leaves the viewer feeling uncomfortable. And voilà: Macy Gray.
