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The Salt Spring Divas Suzie Gay, Hannah Brown, and Monik Nordine are excited to be back at Tea à Tempo with another of their Billie Holiday shows at All Saints by-the Sea on Wednesday, April 03, 2024. This time, they will feature not only the songs that Billie wrote herself, like Stormy Blues, but also songs written for her by her friends, Arthur Herzog and Irene Kitchings.

Suzanne Gay (pianist and vocalist) and Hannah Brown (vocalist and story teller) are thrilled that saxophonist, composer and bandleader Monik Nordine will join them and share her talent that has made her an international artist.

No concert of Billie’s would be complete if her compositions Billie’s Blues and Fine and Mellow were not included. About the latter, Billie said, “There are poetic blues, highly intense blues, happy or sad blues, and sometimes they are all mixed up together…you have to just feel in each song, what it’s all about…”

Billie lived and sang through a tragic life…as a child listening to jazz in houses of prostitution while her mother cleaned there, to being in a child’s detention centre because she was raped, to prison for possession of drugs and, finally, to dying far too young while in police custody in a hospital.

In her short lifetime she left a legacy of having recorded over 300 songs. Billie, also named Lady Day by her friend, renowned saxophonist Lester Young, was a phenomenal singer. Her only musical training was listening to jazz in her early years. Billie’s phrasing was impeccable. She always envisioned that she sang like the horn she heard in her head.

The Salt Spring Divas love performing her music and hope you will come and enjoy an hour of Billie Holiday with them.

Concert begins at 2:10 PM. Donations provide the honoraria for performers and contribute to the running of the Tea à Tempo series.

Tea and Treats, for $5.00 (price change), will be served immediately following the concert in the hall overlooking Ganges Harbour.

So bring a friend or visitor to the Island, be treated to some wonderful Billie Holiday songs, and then have a delicious treat afterwards.

Food, friends, and music! What more could you ask for? Hope to see you there.

The Music Makers