Lea DeLaria plus special guest Liane Carroll Sunday 23rd May

Lea DeLaria - vocals, Janette Mason - piano, Simon Little - bass, Paul Robinson - drums

Plus very special guest: Liane Carroll

AN EVENING OF SLICK JAZZ WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY IN STYLE AT RONNIE SCOTT’S SUNDAY 23RD MAY 2010

 “The girl can certainly swing”
Time Out, New York

“Blessed with one of the most beautiful voices around”
Q Magazine

 “Talks like a coffee grinder, and sounds like a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and a Broadway Diva”
The Guardian

Lea DeLaria has distinguished herself in every form of entertainment that she touches:  Jazz Musician, Broadway Diva, Actor, Writer and Stand-up Comic.  It’s easy to see why Ben Brantley of The New York Times describes Lea as “Every inch a star”.

Her first Jazz album, Play It Cool was released on Warner Jazz in 2000.  Hailed by The Times of London as “Best Jazz Album of 2001”, it featured the single ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd’, which remained at number one on Jazz radio in the States for two months.  Her second album, Double Standards which debuted on the Billboard Jazz Chart at number six, received rave reviews in the UK and US press.  

Her latest CD, The Live Smoke Sessions was recorded in concert at Smoke Jazz Club with takes on Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Michael John La Chiusa.  This CD made the 2008 Grammy Ballad.  Special guest performers include Gil Goldstein on piano, Seamus Blake on saxophone and Ian Shaw, produced and arranged by Janette Mason.

Lea has appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Chicago Symphony, Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Festival Hall, among many others.  She has headlined at the New York City JVC, London, Montreux and Brisbane Jazz Fests and was the featured vocalist for the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival Tour.

Performing with Lea is Janette Mason on piano, a talented Performer, Arranger, Composer and Musical Director.  “A band leader of pugnacious flair and genuine unpredictability”  James Griffiths - The Guardian.  Janette has been seen and heard her on many albums from Ian Shaw to Robert Wyatt, live in concert with Oasis, Pulp, k.d. Lang, Suzanne Vega, Seal and Jimmy Somerville as well as writing theme tunes for television and sound tracks for the movies.  As a Jazz musician, she has been a seminal figure on the British Jazz scene for over 15 years, sharing the stage with Mornington Lockett, Julian Siegel and many more.  

Paul Robinson on drums, has worked with a galaxy of stars including Nina Simone for 19 years, Jan Hammer, The Art of Noise, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Mose Allison, Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin, Liz Wright, The Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Van Morrison and A Cast of Thousands.

Simon Little on bass, probably best known as the bassist with The Divine Comedy.  He also tours with Clare Teal, Duke Special, Maggie Reilly and Chris Difford.  As a jazz bass player, he regularly plays with Ian Shaw, Symeon Cosburn, Nina Ferro and Esther Bennett..  Simon has also played with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, A Girl called Eddy, Beth Rowley, Ben Folds, Norma Winstone, Claire Martin, Pee Wee Ellis, Boo Hewerdine, Ryan Edwards, Alan Barnes, Polly Gibbons, Sarah Moule, Julie McKee and The Ronnie Scott’s Allstars amongst others.

www.myspace.com/leadelaria

www.leadelariadammit.com