LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
Roberta Donnay
Blossom-ing! CD Release
Vocalist Roberta Donnay celebrates the music of Blossom Dearie with Mike Greensill on piano, Ruth Davies on bass, Mark Lee on drums, and Danny Caron on guitar. "With her singularly enticing sound, few contemporary vocalists are as well suited to dustily vintage material as jazz-blues stylist Roberta Donnay." –Jazz Times
$25 General Admission
We are offering a limited number of tickets to attend this performance in person. Advance purchase is required. COVID-19 SAFETY: All ticket holders must show proof of full vaccination (including a booster, if eligible) and wear a mask while inside the piano store.
ROBERTA DONNAY singer / composer / producer
Donnay is a singer, composer, producer who has been active on the jazz and blues scene for over three decades. A native of Washington, DC, and currently based in the Bay Area, she has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz and blues. Donnay has toured internationally and performed at jazz festivals including Exit Zero Jazz, Montreux, Jacksonville Jazz, San Jose Jazz, Monterey Jazz, Telluride, Sonoma International Film Fest., and more.
Her latest pressing, Blossom-ing, is her tenth album and celebrates the music of the legendary Blossom Dearie, whose wispy, delicate voice is the perfect match for Donnay’s own appealing sound. Music critic Bob Leggett called Roberta’s voice “pure sugar and honey”, while Jazz Times said, “With her singularly enticing sound, few contemporary vocalists are as well suited to dustily vintage material as jazz-blues stylist, Roberta Donnay”.
She is a recipient of the prestigious ASCAP Composers Award, and her music has been featured in film and television. Donnay’s music has been featured on Serious XM Radio, DownBeat Magazine and JazzTimes. https://www.robertadonnay.com/
MIKE GREENSILL pianist / arranger / composer / singer / educator
" It's worth twice the price of admission just to hear him!" - NY Daily News. Well known in his role as musical director to acclaimed vocalist Wesla Whitfield with whom he recorded twenty albums, Mike was resident piano player on Sedge Thomson's weekly Public Radio show to the world, "West Coast Live" As an arranger Mike, has had the opportunity to write for big bands and symphony orchestras including the Boston Pops and the San Francisco Symphony.
Mike has accompanied such diverse talents as Rita Moreno,Margaret Whiting, Broadway stars Lillias White and Franc D'Ambrosio and jazz singers Madeline Eastman, Ann Hampton Callaway and Opie Bellas.. Mike has written and arranged for the Kronos Quartet. Mike published his book "Playing for Singers". Mike is beloved as a pianist and performer in his adopted home SF Bay Area. After graduating in 1972 from Leeds College of Music in England, Mike toured Europe and the Far East and lived in Hong Kong for 4 years before finally settling in San Francisco. www.mikegreensill.com
RUTH DAVIES bassist
Ruth Davies has performed with such jazz and blues greats as Keb' Mo', Charles Brown, Clark Terry, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Jay McShann, Van Morrison, Maria Muldaur, Junior Mance, Barbara Morrison, Etta Jones, Terry Gibbs, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Little Jimmy Scott.
Her discography (including several Platinum and Grammy-winning CDs) covers various jazz and blues styles as well as movie soundtracks. She has recorded with Charles Brown, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Clark Terry, Vassar Clements, Toots Thielemans, Ernie Watts, Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur, Jackie Ryan, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, among others.
MARK LEE drummer
Drummer Mark Lee has a wealth of experience performing on the San Francisco/BayArea music scene. He has backed vocalist Ernestine Anderson, Freda Payne, Charles Brown, Mary Lou Henner, Stephanie Powers, The Pointer Sisters and many more. He is also very active on the instrumental music and musical theater scenes.
DANNY CARON guitar
Danny Caron, served as guitarist and musical director for Charles Brown from 1987 until Brown’s death in 1999.He has played on numerous CD’s and sessions with Charles Brown, Clifton Chenier, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Ruth Brown, Etta Jones, John Clayton, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Donald Fagen, Dr. John, Little Milton Campbell, John Hammond Jr. and many others.
Danny is the featured guitarist on the Van Morrison produced John Lee Hooker album, “Don’t Look Back” which won two Grammy Awards – one for Best Traditional Blues Recording, and the other for Best Collaboration, Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker. dannycaron.com