Odetta playing free afternoon show Wednesday

You might remember Odetta from the Bob Dylan documentary No Direction Home. Her song “The Waterboy” even appears on the soundtrack. in 2000, a remastered version of her cover album, “Odetta sings Dylan” was released on CD. For more Odetta, try “The Essential Odetta“.

Her bio describes her as “one of the most important and influential artists of the last century, Odetta was the first solo woman performer to tour the world singing blues, jazz and protest songs while telling the stories of America’s southern experience.” Wednesday at 12:30 PM at Winter Garden at the World Financial Center, she’ll be singing “selections of folk songs and African-American spirituals celebrating the holiday season from her new album, Gonna Let It Shine, A Concert For The Holidays.” It’s free.