#OR BEING A JAZZ VOCALIST AND NOT LIKING ELLE FITZGERALD

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MY DAD WAS SURPRISED I LIKE HERBIE HANCOCK I’M SCREAMING

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Ella Fitzgerald – Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive

Ella Fitzgerald – Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive Call 1-855-637-4055 for our Psychic line as low as 66¢/min lyrics: Gather ’round me, everybody Gather ’round me, while I preach some Feel a sermon coming on here The topic will be sin And that’s what I’m agin’ If you wanna hear my story Then settle back and just sit tight While I start reviewing The attitude of doing right You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with mister inbetween You got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum And have faith, or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene To illustrate my last remark Jonah in the whale, noah in the ark, What did they do, just when everything looked so dark? Man, they said, we better Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with mister inbetween About Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as the “First Lady of Song”, “Queen of Jazz”, and “Lady Ella”, was an American jazz vocalist with a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6). She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a “horn-like” improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia, the daughter of Temperance “Tempie” and William Fitzgerald. The pair separated soon after her birth, and Ella and her mother went to Yonkers, New York, where they eventually moved in with Tempie’s longtime boyfriend, Joseph Da Silva. Ella Fitzgerald‘s half-sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. She and her family were Methodists and were active in the Bethany African Methodist Episcopal Church, and she regularly attended worship services, Bible study, and Sunday school. In her youth, Fitzgerald wanted to be a dancer, although she loved listening to jazz recordings by Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and The Boswell Sisters. She idolized the lead singer Connee Boswell, later saying, “My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it….I tried so hard to sound just like her.” In 1932, her mother died from a heart attack. Following this trauma, Fitzgerald’s grades dropped dramatically, and she frequently skipped school. Abused by her stepfather, she ran away to her aunt and, at one point, worked as a lookout at a bordello and also with a Mafia-affiliated numbers runner. When the authorities caught up with her, she was first placed in the Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale, Bronx. However, when the orphanage proved too crowded, she was moved to the New York Training School for Girls in Hudson, New York, a state reformatory. Eventually she escaped and for a time was homeless. She made her singing debut at 17 on November 21, 1934, at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. She pulled in a weekly audience at the Apollo and won the opportunity to compete in one of the earliest of its famous “Amateur Nights”. She had originally intended to go on stage and dance, but, intimidated by the Edwards Sisters, a local dance duo, she opted to sing instead in the style of Connee Boswell. She sang Boswell’s “Judy” and “The Object of My Affection,” a song recorded by the Boswell Sisters, and won the first prize of US$25.00. Fitzgerald is also referred to on the 1987 song “Ella, elle l’a” by French singer France Gall, the 1976 Stevie Wonder hit “Sir Duke” from his album Songs in the Key of Life, and the song “I Love Being Here With You”, written by Peggy Lee and Bill Schluger. Frank Sinatra‘s 1986 recording of “Mack the Knife” from his album L.A. Is My Lady (1984) includes a homage to some of the song’s previous performers, including ‘Lady Ella’ herself. She is also honored in the song “First Lady” by Canadian artist Nikki Yanofsky. Click here to return to positive music list Read the full article

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USA: BILLIE DAVIES trio-PERSPECTIVES II(2018)

  “PERSPECTIVES II”

BILLIE DAVIES trio

Billie Davies - drums, Evan Oberla - piano/keys/trombone, Oliver Watkinson - bass

featuring: Ari Kohn - woodwinds, Iris P - vocals, Allie Porter - vocals

live recorded for sound and video at: Art Klub, New Orleans LA live recording date: June 1, 2018, 8 - 10 pm recording, mixing, mastering: Mike Davies

video: Marion Hill

tracks

Nature - 11:36 , Life - 06:13 , Happiness - 07:15 , Love - 07:15

Freedom - 16:47 , Art - 13:37 , Rhythm - 14:45

release date: September 27

          “PERSPECTIVES II”

 "All of my music is improvisational... a conversation between musicians and musical instruments. A joint emotional expression inspired by a certain common feeling, thought or perspective in an instinctual, unpredictable, freely expressed improvisation exploring authentic feelings and inspirations that is being communicated to an audience, a listener, a community." - Billie Davies

“PERSPECTIVES II”, is an all spontaneous, instinctive, intuitive improvisation inspired by 7 perspectives, words and 7 chakra musical keys, expressed by a quartet of piano / keys / trombone, baritone sax / flute, bass, drums and vocals / spoken word by 2 female vocalists.

 Perspectives that affect all human beings, regardless of race, nationality, culture, gender, creed, religion, politics, social status and personhood.

Abstract Expressionist Improvisations Neither confused by the light

Nor blinded by dogma, color or political correctness

An ever evolving improvisation, a message to raise the awareness of life and living, love and loving from a deeply natural, instinctive perspective.

A symphony to mother nature, to the tree of life and people. One big conversation where each artist responds to another artist’s call, where each and every action taken is in response to another, all being influenced by each other, all being one and one with mother nature.

A spontaneous expression through sound, through words and through movement, all expressing perspectives of Nature, Life, Happiness, Love, Freedom, Art and Rhythm.

About the performers

Billie Davies - Drums.

“Billie Davies is a very accomplished free-jazz drummer. Born in Belgium, she now lives in New Orleans, having spent much of her life living peripatetically. Previous reviewers have made much of the self-taught nature of her drumming. I defy any listener to distinguish her playing from someone ‘schooled’ in jazz drumming. There is a vitality and fluidity in the way that she plays the drum kit... her stories explain her drumming... ” - Chris Baber, Jazz Views (Jun 30, 2016)

Her 2012 release of “all about Love” solidified her position as a professional jazz musician. This recording of standards and original music, charted #1 in CMJ Jazz College Radio Charts for ‘top jazz add’ in new albums and went on to stay in the top 20 for 4 weeks. Also well received in Canada, the album ended up in the Top 10 on three different !Earshot Jazz charts.

In October, 2013 Billie released “12 VOLT”. CJ Bond, JAZZ MUSIC, wrote, “12 VOLT” adds the crucial tyne of 'composer/arranger' to her sterling artistic fork, augmenting fearless innovation. Jan Hocek of His Voice in Prague wrote:”Without hesitation - HIGH VOLTAGE avant-garde JAZZ - one of the most remarkable trio albums of the year!"

In 2013 Billie Davies received the "Jazz Artist of the Year" Award by the 23rd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards.

In March of 2014 she moved to New Orleans where she recorded "Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon" in 2015.

She received more national and international attention due to a player feature in Downbeat Magazine May 2016 edition, "BILLIE DAVIES '20 Years Stronger'".

"On Hollywood Boulevard", released in 12/10/2016 became a January 2017 Editor's Pick on DownBeat.com.  December 2017 Billie Davies was nominated for "Best Contemporary Jazz Artist" in New Orleans by OffBeat Magazine.

Evan Oberla - Piano/Keys/Synth & Trombone.

"Music never stops, it only begins. All the music that ever was exists now. It is the musician's job to tune into the universe and become a vessel for the music of the moment." Evan Oberla

Evan was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, playing piano and guitar at an early age. In 5th grade he picked up the trombone for the school band. In high school his musicality led him to participate in multiple jazz ensembles, including the acclaimed Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. Evan graduated in June 2009 from Ohio State University with a degree in Jazz Studies performance. A diverse and active musician based out of New Orleans, LA, he can be found with acts such as EO & The Tasty Sapiens, Brass Lightning, Sexual Thunder, Allie Porter Band, Billie Davies, Miss Mojo, Mike Dillon & more. Evan has toured nationally with O.A.R., Allen Stone, and Elle King.

Oliver Watkinson - Electric & Upright Bass.

Born in Brunswick Maine, Oliver began studying music at the age of five. He attended college in Boston at the New England Conservatory, where he had the opportunity to study upright jazz bass and perform with greats such as Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, and many more. In 2014, Oliver moved to New Orleans and began performing with BILLIE DAVIES in 2015, Gandhi Castle, Laelume, and various street bands. He has taught and performed all over the United States, as well as Central America and Canada.

FEATURING

Ari Kohn - Reeds

  Born in Portland, OR he now lives in New Orleans and is a jazz studies graduate from Tulane University. Ari is fast becoming one of the important younger musicians in New Orleans. He is a very creative and dedicated reeds/woodwind player that can be found playing with Brass Lightning, Miss Mojo, Allen Stone, Elle King, Sexual Thunder!, Doombalaya, Noruz, and more.

He is a BOOST Music Teacher at New Orleans College Prep Charter Schools.

He played and performed with the Billie Davies Ensemble horn section in 2015 and with Billie Davies & The Bad Boyzzzz horn section in 2015/16.

He joined BILLIE DAVIES in January of 2018 for the “PERSPECTIVES I & II” project.

 IRIS P - vocals

  Born in 1985, in New Orleans, Catherine Poree' aka IRIS P, discovered her talent when she received her very first instrument, a violin, at the age of 6. From there she went on to perform in orchestra concerts and a host of plays, but most of all enjoyed singing with her mother, the late Marilyn J. Etienne, also known as LADY GOSPEL. In 2010 IRIS P started her mission to "save the world" by performing her original songs written from her extravagant poetry debuting a plethora of songs from her Underground EP "I Got Issues". IRIS         P shows style like no-other with Jazz Melodies when she played "Billie Holiday" in "Dryades Street Divas Review" in the summer of 2014, held at Ashe's Cultural Center. She won "Nola’s Hottest Female Vocalist In October of 2014" at the Nola Hip Hop Awards, and headlined in the Foundation Room at the New Orleans House of Blues. She joined BILLIE DAVIES for the recording of “On Hollywood Boulevard” in 2016.

Allie Porter - vocals

Hails from Crofton, MD and is a singer and songwriter now living in New Orleans with honest pipes and a heart of gold bringing you the music of your past, present and future.

She has been influenced by Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, Irma Thomas, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Beyonce and Janis Joplin.

She can be seen performing in New Orleans with The Allie Porter Band, The Holy Trinity Trio and more. She joined BILLIE DAVIES in January of 2018 for the “PERSPECTIVES I & II” project.

Dancers in Video

Artivism Dance Theatre featuring Elle C Jones and Briana Alston

Artivism Dance Theatre is a collective dedicated to bringing awareness of social issues to a wide range of audiences through dance theatre. Artivism aims to generate discussion amongst its audiences and open a dialogue around these important issues. We prioritize communication of social message over esoteric performance, often using multimedia techniques in our work. We believe that art, and specifically movement, can communicate perspective and experience across gaps in culture, language, and tradition that might otherwise remain unbreachable.

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