Neil Young's Harvest Moon given new life in B.C. jazz star's latest album

In Neil Young's quirky music video for his award-winning song,Harvest Moon, the Canadian singer performs onstage while watching a younger version of himself dance with an old sweetheart inside a crowded tavern.

"I'm still in love with you, I want to seeyou dance again," he sings.

The words ring especially true for Victoria jazz singer Maureen Washington, who has now released her own version of the song in her new album, aptly titled Harvest Moon.

"The song means everything to me every single word,"she told hostMargaret GallagheronCBC'sHot Air.

"When I can't speak, the words speak for me."

Washington lives out the veryscene depicted in Young's classic video time and time again.

She performs the tuneat nearly all of her shows, and each timeit stirsstrong memories of her husband, who passed away last September after a long battle with cancer.

"In the last year of his life, every time the band and I played Harvest Moon, I'd always have him come up and dance with me during the instrumental."

Washington's rendition of the song is powerful. Its progressive composition is anchored by piano, violin and flugelhorn, building up to a climactic finale where the singer unleashes her mellifluous interpretation of Young's blues.

Hot Air5:31Harvest Moon by Maureen Washington

A cover of the classic Niel Young track, featured on the B.C. jazz star's latest album, Harvest Moon

Washington decided to record some of the dances she shared with her husband during the song on an iPhone. Sheput the clips together in a short reel that lets her relive some of those moments.

"It's just absolutely beautiful, and such a great memory for me."

She still continues to perform Harvest Moon on stage, but the shesays it's not easy. She can't fight her emotions, and sometimes the band will have to extend the instrumental while she lets the tearsflow.

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"I let myself remember what [our dances]felt like, and when I'm onstage that person is still a part of me, and that's still a part of my story. And so, I let that desperation come out ... I let myself fall apart."

There's no shortage of passion and emotion at a MaureenWashingtonshow, and the artist takes pride in it.

"I've learned to sing while I cry I've worked real hard at it."

Washington performs regularly throughout Victoria, and has shows scheduled inPrince George and Quesnel early next year.

To listen to Washington's full interview, and hear more of her songs, click on the audio labelled:Neil Young's 'Harvest Moon' given new life in B.C. jazz star's latest album

With files from CBC's Hot Air