Thursday, July 16, 2009

A Jazz Heaven to evoke Billie, Ella and Miles on Saturday, August 8 at the Kranzberg Arts Center

Via email, singer Wendy Gordon (pictured) shares the news that that she'll be presenting a new show called A Jazz Heaven (When Billie & Ella Met Miles & Friends) at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 8 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand (at Olive).

The cabaret-style performance, set in the late 1940s at the Savoy in New York City, tells the stories of jazz greats Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and others through music associated with each of them, with Gordon's original poetry serving as narration.

Gordon will play the role of Holiday, with veteran St. Louis radio personality Edie B. as the narrator, Virginia Williams as Ella and Adrian Bowers as Miles. The cast and musicians Arthur Toney (keyboards), Jeff Anderson (tenor sax and bass) and Marty Morrison (drums and percussion) will perform songs including "God Bless The Child", "How High the Moon", "'Round Midnight" and "Milestones".

Tickets for A Jazz Heaven are $25 each, and can be purchased in advance by calling Gordon at 314-838-9198, or at the door. (Given that the cabaret space at the Kranzberg seats a maximum of 80 people, advance purchase probably is a good idea if you want to be assured of a seat.)

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