American Voices — Women in Jazz: A Celebration of Jazz Legends

On the occasion of the reopening of the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse and Robert Raben’s gift of Billie Holiday papers to the Jazz Archive at Hunter College

American Voices Presents:

A salute to jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, and Billie Holiday.

With music by Ryan Keberle’s Big Band Living Legacy Project — a 15-piece Jazz Orchestra with Adam Birnbaum on piano, and performances by Lili Cooper, Maya Days, Hilary Kole, and Madeline Peyroux.

Jazz is considered to be the first art form originated in America. For many of its early decades, while the instruments were usually played by men, the voice of jazz, save for Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra, was that of a woman. Ella, Sarah, Lena, Billie — women so popular in the jazz world you only need to use their first name — represent the very essence of jazz.

Join us as four singularly talented women today — Lilli Cooper, Maya Days, Hilary Kole, and Madeleine Peyroux — pay tribute to the legendary women who came before them. An unforgettable night of music and song!