ANNIE STARTS THE YEAR OFF RIGHT!
Jazz legend Annie Ross continues her run of Tuesday's at THE METROPOLITAN
ROOM (34 West 22nd Street, NYC - 212-206-0440 -
http://www.metropolitanroom.com/
) with the open-ended series set to start on Tuesday, January 2nd
at 7:00 pm.
Annie Ross has been an abundant contributor to the
art of jazz for over 50 years. Born in the UK, she has been a permanent
resident of the USA for many years and a US citizen since 2001.
She is one of the pioneers of vocalese and the composer of "Twisted,"
one of the most well known examples of that art, as well as "Farmers
Market," "Jackie" and many others. A founding member of Lambert,
Hendricks and Ross, considered the greatest jazz vocal ensemble
of all time, her influence is present in all subsequent practitioners
of vocalese. "Twisted" has been recorded by a host of vocalists,
including some not normally associated with jazz, including Joni
Mitchell and Bette Midler.
Annie Ross toured in the 50s with the extraordinary
Lionel Hampton band that included Art Farmer, Clifford Brown, Gigi
Gryce, and Quincy Jones. Ms. Ross has recorded with James Moody,
Kenny Clarke, Milt Jackson, Harry Sweets Edison, the Count Basie
band, Louis Armstrong, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Chet Baker and
many more. In this variety of settings, she became known as a great
jazz singer, masterful at ballads and up tempos, with the ability
to swing hard, improvise and make every lyric meaningful and revealing.
As a child, Annie Ross entered a talent show on the
radio accompanied by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, which resulted
an a six-month contract with MGM. She went to Hollywood at age eight
where she appeared in "The Little Rascals" singing a jazz version
of "Loch Lomond." At age eleven she appeared as Judy Garland's sister
in "Presenting Lily Mars." At age 14 she composed the song "Let's
Fly," which was subsequently recorded by Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford.
In Paris in the late 40s, she met up with musicians
involved in modern jazz, including James Moody, Kenny Clarke, Charlie
Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Billy Strayhorn, and displayed an unerring
ear and savvy sense of harmony, which was much appreciated. At 19,
she recorded "Le Vent Vert" with Moody. Back in the U.S. at age
21 she recorded for Savoy, along with Clarke, Milt Jackson and Percy
Heath. She worked on 52nd St. with Max Roach, Tommy Potter and George
Wallington and subbed for Billie Holiday at the Apollo Theater.
The original recordings of "Twisted" and "Farmer's Market" were
done in 1952 with Wallington on piano and Art Blakey on drums.
Annie Ross has continued to bring the essence of jazz
to a broad spectrum of listeners internationally, by touring, through
her recordings, conducting workshops, writing, and appearances in
film, television and radio.
Currently, Annie Ross is living in New York and is
still active as a jazz performer, having recently performed in New
York, Scotland, and Spain as well as having recorded a new CD, Let
Me Sing.
There is a $25 Cover plus a 2 Beverage Minimum.
If
you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE,
please e-mail