Jazz Vocalist Brings Her Band and Sultry Style to the Bardavon

The Bardavon presents the exceptional jazz stylist, Madeleine Peyroux, with her band on Friday, June 27 at 8pm. Opening for Peyroux is 1940s gospel and R&B legend, Marie Knight.

Madeleine Peyroux is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Peyroux (pronounced 'Peru') is noted for her distinctive vocal style, which has been compared to that of Billie Holiday. She started singing at fifteen when she discovered street musicians in the Latin Quarter in Paris. She joined the Riverboat Shufflers, first passing the hat, and then singing. At sixteen, she joined The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band, spending two years touring Europe performing songs made famous by Fats Waller, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. These songs were the basis for her first album, "Dreamland", in 1996. Time Magazine called it "the most exciting (recording), involving vocal performance by a new singer this year." Peyroux opened for Sarah McLachlan and Cesaria Evora, and appeared at jazz festivals and on the Lilith Fair tour.

Peyroux spent much of the next six years busking in Paris living a low-key existence. She sang on works by other artists, but rarely appeared in clubs. In May 2002 she joined multi-instrumentalist William Galison, and appearing at the Bottom Line, Joe's Pub, and Tin Angel. In 2003 the duo released an EP entitled, "Got You On My Mind". Peyroux released her second album, "Careless Love", in 2004 to positive reviews. It sold a million copies worldwide. It opens with Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" and includes songs by Bob Dylan ("You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"), Elliott Smith ("Between The Bars") and Hank Williams ("Weary Blues"). She wrote one track, "Don't Wait Too Long'.

Her third album, "Half The Perfect World", was released in 2006. Peyroux collaborated with Jesse Harris, Walter Becker, Larry Klein (the producer), and k.d. lang. Other covers include "Blue Alert" and "Half The Perfect World" by Leonard Cohen-Anjani Thomas and "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. In 2007, she was awarded Best International Jazz Artist at the BBC Jazz Awards.

In 1946, Marie Knight met Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the nrenowned gospel singer-guitarist, who recognized something special in Marie's compelling contralto and her elegant stage presence. The two became gospel's preeminent duo of the 1940s, recording hits for Decca Records including "Didn't It Rain", "Up Above My Head", and "Beams of Heaven".

In the 1960s, Marie cultivated a rhythm-and-blues career, touring with Brooke Benton, the Drifters and Clyde McPhatter. She re-emerged in the mid-1970s to record gospel music. Today, Marie Knight is a minister at Gates of Prayer Church in New York, founded by the late Dolly Lewis. Her newest recording, released in 2007, marks her first release in twenty years.
 
The concert benefits Youth Advocate Programs, which operate in 75 counties and across twelve states and Washington, DC. They provide individual and family care for children at risk of being placed outside the home in foster care or institutional facilities; www.yapinc.org .It also benefits 'indie programs', which works with high-schoolers who are at risk of dropping out; www.indieprograms.org .

Tickets for the Bardavon performance of Madeleine Peyroux and her band with special guest Marie Knight on Friday, June 27, at 8pm are available for $42 at the Bardavon Box Office, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, 845/473-2072 or Ticketmaster at 845/454-3388 or www.tickemaster.com . The Bardavon is handicapped accessible and has secure and convenient parking. For other Bardavon events check www.bardavon.org .