Jazz at the Ballroom presents "Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared"

Saturday, August 24, 2024 - 6:15 pm - 7:45 pm
The Main Stage

Purchase Main Stage Seating HERE

The festival is excited to present a creative program by the Jazz at the Ballroom organization, which has presented special programs on the Great American Songbook at the country’s most respected venues such as the Kennedy Center, Skirball Cultural Center, Lobero Theatre, and at New York City’s famed Birdland. Jazz at the Ballroom will feature a lineup of rising stars led by the extraordinary jazz pianist Konrad Paszkudzki and featuring bassist Dylan Shamat, vocalist Olivia Chindamo, pianist/vocalist Champian Fulton, vocalist Vanessa Perea, vocalist Wyatt Michael, trombonist Rob Edwards, saxophonist Adrian Cunningham, and more.

More information about the Jazz at the Ballroom Ensemble HERE

FLYING HIGH: Big Band Canaries Who Soared

Join us at the Great American Songbook Celebration at the Northwest Jazz Festival on August 24th for "Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared," a captivating tribute to the legendary female vocalists who left an indelible mark on the jazz genre. This extraordinary musical celebration, under the artistic direction of renowned jazz pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton, promises to transport audiences back to the golden age of jazz.

"Flying High" pays homage to the great "canaries"—the young women who sang with the greatest big bands of the era. These iconic vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, and Ella Fitzgerald, began their illustrious careers with the orchestras of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, and more. Despite their beginnings, these women soared to remarkable solo careers, becoming trailblazers in the jazz world.

The program features stunning performances by Champian Fulton, Olivia Chindamo, and Vanessa Perea, who will bring to life the timeless classics that these jazz icons made famous. Audiences can look forward to enchanting renditions of songs such as “All of Me." Each vocalist will infuse endeared beloved standards with their unique style, celebrating the legacy of the women who originally made them famous.

"Flying High" debuted at Birdland East in Manhattan earlier this year and has been met with widespread acclaim. This performance at the Northwest Jazz Festival marks a special opportunity for festival-goers to experience this extraordinary revue, which not only showcases the immense talent of these internationally acclaimed vocalists but also highlights the historical significance of their contributions to jazz.

Don't miss this chance to witness a celebration of the great canaries, who not only defined the big band era but also soared beyond it, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of jazz. Let "Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared" take you on a nostalgic journey through some of the most iconic music of the 20th century, presented by some of today's most talented jazz artists.