Roberta Donnay and the Prohibition Mob- "From Bessie to Billie" Feat. Noel Jewkes
Jazz vocalist Roberta Donnay brings "From Bessie to Billie," a heartfelt tribute to the pioneering women who built jazz and blues from the ground up. Drawing on her decade-plus touring experience with Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks and her extensive study of Jazz Age material, Donnay crafts what one reviewer calls "a genuine love letter to the pioneering women of the Jazz Age, performed with joy and grit."
As Jazz Times notes, "few contemporary vocalists are as well suited to dustily vintage material as jazz-blues stylist Roberta Donnay." Her approach transforms vintage blues and jazz standards into something "living and immediate," channeling the spirit of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey, and Ethel Waters through her "singularly enticing sound." Donnay takes the stage as a character inspired by Jazz Age female singers and film noir gun molls, complete with vintage styling and a compelling backstory.
The Prohibition Mob has released three acclaimed albums — "A Little Sugar," "Bathtub Gin," and "My Heart Belongs to Satchmo" — and performed at major venues including Birdland NYC and festivals like Monterey Jazz and Montreux. Grammy-winning trombonist Mike Rinta brings his versatile experience from Sly & The Family Stone and Pacific Mambo Orchestra, while pianist John R. Burr adds his folk-influenced jazz sensibility honed through work with Maria Muldaur and Paul McCandless.
Special guest Noel Jewkes, the premier tenor saxophonist who's been a cornerstone of the Bay Area jazz scene for over 40 years, adds his cool-toned, fluent soloing style to the evening. Known for his mainstream jazz approach and collaborations with numerous notable artists, Jewkes brings both saxophone and clarinet to complement Donnay's vintage aesthetic.
Expect theatrical flair alongside the music — Donnay describes her performances as "kind of like a theater performance," blending call-and-response audience participation, conversational solos between horn players, and the sultry storytelling that makes forgotten Jazz Age material feel immediate and alive.