CLIFF RICHMOND & THE CLIFFNOTES
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is leaving on a jet plane and heading to the Motor City this week to hang out at the swanky, restored art deco club known to the locals as Cliff Bell’s. The jazz club opened its doors in 1935 and has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry all while serving up nightly a creative, eclectic fare with live jazz on stage. Two shows nightly and of course, this voyager will be at the 9:30pm seating which accommodates between 100 and 150 patrons.
On the marquee is Detroit native, vocalist Kimmie Horne, who comes from the legendary family that gave rise to singing stars before her, Lena and Cleveland. She hosts her self-titled jazz festival annually, tours internationally and is gracious enough to spend a few gigs in her home city to perform for her fans.
Cliff Bell’s is located at 2030 Park Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226. For more information visit https://cliffbells.com.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
May Alix was born Liza Mae Alix on August 31, 1902 in Chicago, Illinois and began her career as a teenager after winning a talent contest. She performed with the Jimmie Noone band in the clubs around the city. She later worked with bandleaders Carroll Dickerson, Duke Ellington, and Luis Russell.
She earned the nickname “Queen of the Splits” for the dance choreography included in her show, where she would do a split for every dollar thrown by a customer. Soon she joined Ollie Powers as a duo performing in cabarets.
1926 saw her recording with Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, one being Big Butter and Egg Man, which became Armstrong’s first chart hit. She went on to collaborate with Jimmie Noone on half a dozen recordings for Vocalion Records at the end of the decade including Ain’t Misbehavin, My Daddy Rocks Me, and Birmingham Bertha/Am I Blue?.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, she performed mainly in New York City. Jazz singer Alberta Hunter sometimes recorded under the name “May Alix”, with the permission of the real May Alix.
Vocalist May Alix, who left show business in 1941, died on November 1, 1983.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Frances Wayne was born Chiarina Francesca Bartocci or Clara Bertocci on August 26, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from Somerville High School. Moving to New York City in her teens she sang in an ensemble led by her brother, saxophonist Nick Jerret.
In the early 1940s she recorded with Charlie Barnet’s big band, and in 1943 sang with Woody Herman’s band. Marrying Neal Hefti in 1945, Frances soloed in her husband’s big band formed in 1947. In addition to her solo career she sang with Hefti into the 1950s.
She later sang with smaller ensembles featuring Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Jerome Richardson, Richie Kamuca, John LaPorta, Billy Bauer and Al Cohn. On The Woody Herman Show broadcasted on the radio, Wayne was his female vocalist.
On February 6, 1978, vocalist Frances Wayne, who received the 1946 Esquire Award as Best New Female Vocalist, died after suffering from cancer over an extended period in her hometown at age 58.
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KIMMIE HORNE
Kimmie Horne is an international jazz vocalist, model, and actress and a native Detroiter, descendant of the legendary songstress and actor Lena Horne, and niece of the late great singer/songwriter Cleveland Horne of the Fantastic Four. She has left her mark in areas around the world, including, Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, LA, San Francisco, Jamaica, Ontario, Toronto, Puerto Rico, London, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and more.
In addition to live performances, she touts her cds High Standards, Loving This Jazz, and Live in Las Vegas. Her 2018 release of her new video, As Long as I Live, viewed by thousands, has received critical praise. Her songs, I Hope You Dance, and special arrangement of, I Will Survive, demonstrate her blend of talent and sophistication.
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