Legendary Black Singers

Show Description:

Why did Ella Fitzgerald record no less than eight songbook albums devoted to famous composers–all of them (except Duke Ellington) white songwriters for theater and film? “Because the songs are great!” she said, and many of her African American colleagues from the classic era agreed: Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Hartman, Maxine Sullivan, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Short–the list goes on. Jazz pianist Joe Hunter and his trio and singers including the wonderful Evelyn Wright and Nicole Sumlin— will take us on a tour spiced with video clips.