Jazz concert pays tribute to First Lady of Song

One of New Zealand’s top jazz singers will be channelling the “First Lady of Song’’ when she performs a tribute concert to the late Ella Fitzgerald next month.

The concert is part of a special weekend of jazz and blues that has been organised by New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival director Jodi Wright to lift spirits in Christchurch.

The Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, performed by Jennine Bailey, is the showpiece of the Taste Jazz/Taste Blues weekend, which is scheduled to be held at the Hagley Parks Events Village on November 5 and 6.

During the course of her 59-year career American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards and sold more than 40 million albums. With her extraordinary vocal range she could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra.

Ms Wright is excited the songs that Fitzgerald made famous are about to be brought to life on stage by Bailey.

"Jennine is one of New Zealand’s top jazz singers and her sultry smooth voice and witty repartee always makes her a favourite with audiences. For this concert she’s going to be accompanied by some of New Zealand’s finest jazz talent and will be performing classics like Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Mack the Knife so it’s a not-to-be-missed event," Ms Wright says.

"It’s going to be a wonderful tribute to one of the great singing legends of our time."

The Hagley Parks Event Dome will be the venue for the concert, which is the only ticketed event of the Taste Jazz/Taste Blues weekend. Tickets for the November 5 concert are being sold through Dash Ticketing for $25, plus booking fee.

The show is presented by Cavell Leitch Law with the support of Creative Communities.