Morning Melodies pays tribute to three greats of jazz
It’s the year 1954. Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Eartha Kitt are all at the dizzy heights of their careers.With swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch, these three women broke new ground for all who followed after.
In October’s Morning Melodies at the Pilbeam Theatre, 1954: Ella, Etta, Eartha, Melissa Western and her world class band pay tribute to this magnificent era in music and inspiring trio of pioneering singers.
The show builds on the success of Western’s previous jazz cabaret Oh Lady be Good, a sellout at the Queensland Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Jazz Club and Edinburgh Fringe.
Western says: “As my understanding of the mid 50s developed I was drawn to the stories of Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt and Etta James. Though very different in their styles of music, I noticed this common thread of genre trailblazing, of three women of colour breaking glass ceilings all around them and paving the way for so many who followed after them.”
It’s these stories that fuel Western’s feast of jazz, soul and cabaret. Joining Melissa onstage is a versatile and talented world class jazz band featuring some of Brisbane’s very best musicians.
1954: Ella, Etta, Eartha will be performed at Morning Melodies at the Pilbeam Theatre on Monday 17 October at 11am.
