Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Kitty White was born Kitty Jean Bilbrew on July 7, 1923 in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a musical family, her parents were singers, and her uncle was a well-known vaudevillian and disc jockey. Her twin sister, Maudie Jeanette, also sang and briefly worked with Duke Ellington’s revue, Jump for Joy, but never pursued an active career. Their mother, known as A.C. Bilbrew, organized an all-black chorus that performed in the 1929 film Hearts of Dixie.
She started her career at the age of sixteen as a singer and a pianist, appearing in local nightclubs around Los Angeles. Branching out she opened at the Black Orchid in Chicago, Illinois and was introduced to the executives of Mercury Records, where she became a recording artist.
Kitty picked up her catchy jazz name legitimately by marrying songwriter Eddie White in the 1940s. She moved to Palm Springs, California in 1967 and sang at the Spa Hotel for sixteen years.
Recording mostly on the West Coast, she worked with Buddy Collette, Gerald Wiggins, Chico Hamilton, Bud Shank and Red Callender. She sang many demo recordings for her friend, Los Angeles blues composer Jessie Mae Robinson, including I Went To Your Wedding, a No. 1 hit for Patti Page in 1953. She was also the sole female voice on Elvis Presley’s song Crawfish from the King Creole film soundtrack.
Vocalist Kitty White, who recorded eight albums as a leader and had two compilations released, transitioned in Palm Springs, at the age of 86 on August 11, 2009 after suffering a stroke.
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JAZZMEIA HORN & TERENCE BLANCHARD
Friday, August 26, 2022 | 7:00 pm ~ 9:00 pm
Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force / Calvin Booker On Tap & Friends
Saturday, August 27, 2022 | 3:00 pm ~ 7:00 pm
Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet / Buster Williams & Something More / NIKARA presents Black Wall Street / Vuyo Sotashe
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TONY HIGHTOWER
Atlanta based jazz, soul and blues singer Tony Hightower says that growing up with his single mother meant he went to all her shows and was exposed to many of the finest musicians in town. Whatever you are around is going to be an influence. A lot of what he was around growing up was jazz.
He got his first professional gig at 14 a a drummer and had a record contract as part of the neo~soul group 4.0 right out of high school. He toured with the group for the next five years.He said he fantasized that one day I’m going to make a record like Nat King Cole and perform in a tux holding a brandy snifter. His dream is coming true.
Tony releases his long awaited sophomore recording Legacy inhigh fashion, two consecutive nights at the Velvet Note.
Showtimes:
Fri, Sat | 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm ~ $39.00
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NICOLE HENRY
Time To Love Again CD Release Tour
Nicole Henry’s passionate, soulful voice and heartfelt charisma have earned her a Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” and four Top-10 U.S. Billboard and HMV Japan jazz albums. Heralded by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more, Ms. Henry tells real stories through peerless interpretations of repertoire from the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, popular standards, blues and originals.
Powerhouse jazz vocalist Nicole Henry returns to celebrate the release of her new CD, Time to Love Again, an eclectic mix of jazz standards and reimagined pop tunes that showcases Henry’s soulful interpretations.
“Time To Love Again” is Henry’s 8th career CD and fourth to reach the TOP 10. Whether burning through a swing tune or gently caressing a ballad, Henry truly makes each song uniquely her own with her dynamic range, impeccable phrasing, and bluesy gospel style.
Actual Showtimes ~ 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm | Friday
Front Stage Table ~ $40.00/$20 minimum purchase required
General Admission ~ $30.00/$20 minimum purchase required
Students 17 & under ~ $20.00/$10 minimum purchase required
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JANE MONHEIT
Blessed with “a voice of phenomenal beauty” (Stephen Holden, New York Times), Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of today’s best and most important vocalist-musicians.
With her new album, The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald—the first to be released on her own Emerald City Records—the Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap. Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time. Fitzgerald’s beloved songbook albums held “Biblical” importance for her when she was growing up andhave never lost their hold on her.
On this new offering, Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself, guided by her producer, arranger, and trumpet great, Nicholas Payton. Once she decided to make the dream project a reality, she had no trouble choosing titles. She jotted down a list of 25 titles “almost immediately.” She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together.
Showtimes:
7:00 pm | Thurs, Sun~$45.00, Fri, Sat~$50
9:00 pm | Thurs, Sun~$45.00, Fri, Sat~$50
$15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
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