Who is ready for the Francine Reed extravaganza tonight? Prep your ears for euphonious delights with a listen to Francine Reed‘s interview on KAOS 89.3FM. Consider it a swanky cocktail for your ears.
Tag Archives: jazz
Gangsters Loot the Tent
The story begins long before you get to the tent. Check out this teaser for Gangsters of Love playing at Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle through September 30.
It is finally here! Gangsters of Love opened June 14th to a full house of adoring fans and freshly minted converts. For this spectacular spectacular, the tent sends you back in time to 1932. America is deep in the depression. Bread lines, unemployment and homelessness are rife. Prohibition, which made the sale and distribution of liquor illegal, has been the law of the land for 13 years. Why on earth did we send you back here, you might be asking yourself?
Oh right, because it is also the age of jazz, Art Deco, and glamor! This show has everything, and we mean everything: Three aerial acts, gangsters, tap dancing, King Kong, Chef Caesar, gambling, socks, cement boots, moxie, jazz, Francine Reed, and so much more. Gangsters of Love features comedian Frank Ferrante, aerialist Dreya Weber, blues vocal powerhouse Francine Reed, Duo Madrona (Ben Wendel and Rachel Nehmer) on trapeze, funnyman Joe DePaul, comic acrobat Andrea Conway Doba, vaudevillian Wayne Doba and juggler rola bola extraordinaire Bernard Hazen. This much talent in one tent is probably illegal, so don’t tell the fuzz!
Chef Erik Carlson has simply outdone himself with his newest five-course extravaganza of flavor. Think we are being biased? Check out the menu! Seriously, he is serving Blue Nose Bass en Parchment with lemon, Mascarpone and fresh herbs, served with garlic saffron rice, broccolini almandine and carrots. We dream in cheesecake! You will not be disappointed.
Mirror Tent Music Presents…
FRANCINE REED
Blues, jazz, gospel, and live music fans get ready! Legendary vocalist Francine Reed will be singeing the velvet-topped tent with her blazing hot vocal stylings on November 7th. For one night only, Francine will sing the greatest tunes in blues, jazz and gospel, featuring her classic blues song “Wild Women (Don’t Get the Blues)” as part of our Mirror Tent Music Series.
Just in, an a la carte menu of all of Francine’s Favorites has been added at a super sweet price! Check out the full menu here.
Her bio, from The Arts Council Inc., tells us more about this vocal powerhouse:
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Francine Reed has had a passion for singing since her early childhood. She began singing professionally with her family’s gospel group when she was five. “I always say I was born singing,” Reed has said in a biographical release. “I can still remember my first performance when I was a 3-year-old in my aunt’s church. I used to listen to rehearsals with her gospel choir and I’d sing ‘I Wanna See Jesus’ in front of the congregation…It’s a natural, God-given talent.”
After marrying young, the everyday struggles of life kept Reed from pursuing her dream of singing full-time until her children were older. Fortunately, she was able to move to Phoenix, Arizona where she began to sing in local jazz clubs and at various functions. She became known for her powerful voice and commanding stage presence, and delivered an eclectic blend of jazz, blues, and R&B. She was often the opening act for such headliners as Miles Davis, Etta James, Smokey Robinson, and the Crusaders.
In 1985, friends introduced Reed to Lyle Lovett, who was searching for a female singer for his new band. Lovett was still a struggling, virtually unknown performer when they began their association, but as his star rose, Reed became an integral part of his show. Reed began touring with Lovett and his Large Band as a background vocalist, and also often performed duets with the country musician. She was featured with Lovett on several albums, and appeared with him on television shows such as “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show,” and “Regis and Kathy Lee.”
In the mid 1990s, she decided to pursue a solo career and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Here she recorded her debut solo album, “I Want You to Love Me,” which featured a duet with Lyle Lovett. Her follow-up, “Can’t Make It On My Own,” featured a duet with Delbert McClinton. The success of these early works resulted in nominations for the prestigious W.C. Handy Award (Blues Song of the Year and Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year – 1997).
Reed continued to release solo albums and went on to collaborate with other great performers. She performed on Willie Nelson’s acclaimed album Milk Cow Blues (2000), lending her soulful voice to the title track as well as to the song “Funny How Time Slips Away.” She has also contributed vocals to the recordings of Delbert McClinton and Roy Orbison.
