A musical tribute to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan
and other female pioneers of jazz will bring together New York's best
vocalists and musicians to "Celebrate The Great Women Of Blues &
Jazz," on Saturday, March 12 at Annenberg Center Live, as part of the
African Roots, American Voices series.
Directed by Toshi Reagon
and Allison Miller, "Celebrate The Great Women Of Blues & Jazz"
honors the musical mothers of these performers in an evening of beloved
jazz standards and blues hits which celebrate the women whose immense
talent and unbreakable spirit shaped the future of jazz and blues.
Reagon and Miller will be joined by a cast of stunning vocalists and
musicians as well as internationally renowned tap dancer/choreographer,
Michelle Dorrance.
"I created this show thinking about the
audience at the Schomburg," said Reagon, recalling how it was first
performed at The Schomburg Women In Jazz Festival in 2012. "Whenever I
was in the audience watching a show, I would be blessed to sit next to
some serious music lovers and historians. They would tell me about
seeing Billie, Ella, Sarah -- all the ladies we know by one name because
they were so powerful. I wanted to do something to not only honor those
artists, but show respect and honor those folks that helped nurture
their careers and in turn gave birth to mine."
Annenberg Center
Live favorite Reagon has been described as "a talented, versatile
singer, songwriter and musician with a profound ear for sonic Americana
-- from folk to funk, from blues to rock" by critic/blogger Eva Yaa
Asantewaa (InfiniteBody), who writes, "She masters each of these genres
with vocal strategies that easily spiral and swoop from the expressively
sinuous to the hard-charging, a combination of warmth and mischief."
While
her expansive career has landed her comfortably in residence at
Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House and Madison Square Garden, you can
just as easily find Reagon turning up at a music festival, intimate
venue or local club. Reagon is home on any musical stage and has had the
pleasure of working with Lenny Kravitz, Lizz Wright, Ani DiFranco, Carl
Hancock Rux, Nona Hendryx, Pete Seeger, Chocolate Genius and many other
amazing artists, including her favorite collaborator, her mom, Bernice
Johnson Reagon.
There will be a pre-show talk at 7 p.m. about the
influence of women in blues and jazz featuring
creator/director/performer Toshi Reagon and members of the cast. The
talk will be moderated by the University of Pennsylvania's Salamishah
Tillet, Associate Professor of English and Africana Studies.
The
full cast includes Music Directors Toshi Reagon (Vocals, Guitar),
Allison Miller (Drums); Host Liza Jessie Peterson; Vocalists Christelle
Durandy, Karma Mayet Johnson, Tamar-kali, Josette Newsam Marchak, Mem
Nhadr; Band members Mayra Casales (Percussion), Ingrid Jensen (Trumpet),
Reut Regeve (Trombone), Linda Oh (Bass), Alex Nolan (Guitar), Rachel
Eckroth (Piano); and dancer Michelle Dorrance.
The University
of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center has been the region's leading
multi-disciplinary performance venue for theatre, dance, jazz, world
music, new music and children's programming since its inception in 1971.
The Annenberg Center's curatorial vision emphasizes four primary
values: artistic integrity, cultural diversity, curatorial balance and a
willingness to take risks. By presenting world-renowned and cutting
edge artists and companies that express adventuresome perspectives on
contemporary issues, timeless ideas and diverse cultures, the Annenberg
Center promotes critical thinking and dialogue among its audiences,
creating a uniquely rewarding arts experience.
The Annenberg
Center has achieved national recognition for its outstanding Dance
Celebration series (previously presented in partnership with
Philadelphia's Dance Affiliates), touring theatre series, and for its
superior offerings for children, including both its Arts4Youth Series
and the acclaimed 30 plus year Philadelphia International Children's
Festival, the oldest festival of its kind in the United States.
"Celebrate
The Great Women Of Blues & Jazz" will be held at 8 p.m. on
Saturday, March 12 at Annenberg Center Live, 3680 Walnut St.,
Philadelphia, PA 19104.
For tickets and more information, call 215-898-3900 or visit AnnenbergCenter.org
