Nancy Millan’s Sultry Summer Songs

August 31, 2024 0 By Kathy Tejada

Summertime is the perfect time to kick back and enjoy the simple things in life: evenings with friends, a cool drink, listening to those tunes that take you back in time. Boundless Theatre Company provided a perfect evening to savor the midsummer vibe: “Summer Verano” with the extraordinarily talented Nancy Millán, during a cozy concert held at the Julia de Burgos Performance and Arts Center on July 26. Nancy has a special way of bringing the audience into her world as she wields her voice like a magician’s wand; with it she creates warm and intimate spaces; she transports us to other places, so much so that I’m quite sure I could smell the salty evening air of hot nights on a Caribbean island. She treated us to nostalgic tunes, but with a modern and personal touch and surprised us with her renditions of those summer classics by Bobby Capó,Sylvia Rexach and Ella Fitzgerald, among others, by making them her own with fresh and modern arrangements. Miss Millán has a stage presence that is endearing and flirty, with a touch of sultry directness that makes her performance completely disarming and enjoyable. Jomel Rivera, Nancy’s accompanist, is simply astonishing; he is a charismatic and brilliant performer on stage, supporting Nancy’s vocals as they effortlessly play off each other.

The set was simple and unfussy: a few candles and suspended lights, allowing us to fill in the space with our imaginations: the stars over the beach on a moonless summer night, or perhaps the lights of some sexy little bar on the boardwalk. There were tables and chairs placed right on the performance area, adding to the intimacy of the performance. The lighting was simple and effective, allowing Nancy and Jomel to basque in their own glow. With her sophisticated, yet folksy way of relating to her audience, Nancy had us all eating out of the palm of her hand, and she left us wistfully wishing for more. While we know that summer is Nancy’s favorite season, we are absolutely hoping that she can caress our ears with concerts for the other three seasons!