Sarah Gillespie: Empress of The Blues

Running Time: 2 hours approx with an interval

Sarah Gillespie grew up in both the US and UK.

Her music is a fusion of jazz, folk and blues, knitted together by poetic streetwise lyricism. She has performed at many festivals and jazz venues in Europe and across the UK including headline shows at Ronnie Scott’s

Sarah’s Jazz Divas presentation showcases the 1920’s jazz and blues vocalist Bessie Smith, the “Empress of The Blues”, whose powerful, soulful voice won her countless fans and was a primary influence for Billie Holliday, Aretha Franklin and many others.

Sarah is supported at the piano by Kit Downes with Ben Bastin – double bass and James Maddren – drums.

‘Take Dylan’s lyrical bite, add Mitchell’s forthrightness with rap-like percussiveness and you have the original Sarah Gillespie’ The Guardian

The fourth show in the 2015 Jazz Divas Series