Friday June 3 at 8 pm, $10. A rare Hamilton concert by the wonderful jazz singer Rita di Ghent, vocals, keyboard and piano, with Sam “The Shark” Sharkawy, guitar and vocals. “Rita’s Parlour: The Traveling Show” … up-close jazz, repartee, and pistol-packin’ blues!
http://www.myspace.com/ritadighent
Opening for Rita are The MJs, a newly formed band from Hamilton: Mark Tharme – vocals, guitar; John Davis – vocals, guitar, percussion; Judy Boswell – vocals, percussion; MJ Russell – vocals, keyboard, percussion.
Reviews of Rita di Ghent: “On occasion a performance reaches that rare level of brilliance that sets it apart from the norm…this was one. Hot sizzle with a splash of elegance is just one way to describe Rita’s Parlour, an engaging and evocative show, reminiscent of the Speakeasy entertainment of the 1920s and 30s. Rita’s bold, brassy, yet seductive vocals were pure temptation, and the audience just loved it…intimate and brilliantly presented…and we came away all the richer for it.” (Brian Barlow, Creative Director, Prince Edward County Jazz Festival)
“The evening was all too short. Rita’s personality transported us into another time and place, her stories and textured singing voice give these old risque tunes of another time a strange authenticity and warmth, extremely rare and welcome in today’s impersonal entertainment scene.” (Lynn Macdonald, Artistic Director, Amis du Jazz Concert Series)
“The Girl is brilliant! She’s got a million dollars down her throat!” (Herb Ellison, Jazz Cafe, Australia)
“Rita di Ghent est une chanteuse hot ans la tradition, avec une belle voix mezzo qui colle a mereille…elle est une chanteuse dont on se souvient et qui ne laisse pas indifferent.” (Michel Bedin, Jazz Hot, Paris)
