Name: Bessie, Billie, & Nina - Pioneering Women in Jazz
Start: 2022-03-22T19:30:00
Location: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Since the release of the beloved indie classic, Napoleon Dynamite, 20 years ago, much has changed, but the characters, as enduring as they are endearing, stay in our hearts. This unique evening includes a full screening of Napoleon Dynamite, followed by a lively discussion with cast members, Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), and Efren Ramirez (Pedro). Perfect for the whole family, this live show is a wild and hysterical blend of Q&A, comedy improv, game show, and party, with plenty of audience participation.

Napoleon Dynamite Live A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, and Jon Gries

Produced by Grammy-winning Eli Wolf (Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson), and with arrangements by pianist and musical director Carmen Staff (Dee Dee Bridgewater), BESSIE, BILLIE, & NINA: PIONEERING WOMEN IN JAZZ features three dynamic vocalists, each a rising star in her own right: Charenée Wade (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Tahira Clayton (co-leader, WIJO, Women in Jazz Organization) and Vanisha Gould. Presented in affiliation with WIJO and backed by an all-female band, Wade, Gould, and Clayton celebrate the enduring legacies of these iconic women and artists with performances of their classic songs, including Bessie Smith’s “Downhearted Blues,” Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” and Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam.”  The musical and social legacies of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone remain as relevant as ever. Their contributions resonate with today’s artists across many genres, as well as with ongoing movements toward progress and equality for women, African-Americans, and the LGBTQ community. BESSIE, BILLIE, & NINA will entertain, inspire, and empower audiences during this pivotal time in our own history.