Clairdee Joins Capital Jazz Orchestra in Honoring Billie Holiday Tonight

International touring and recording artist Clairdee joins forces with the Capital Jazz Orchestra, Clayton "Skip" Poole, Music Director, for a very special 100th birthday tribute to the great "Lady Day", Billie Holiday, tonight, May 15, at 7:30pm. Based in San Francisco, Clairdee will be performing such Billie classics as "Travelin' Light," "Any Old Time," and "God Bless the Child," along with many other selections featuring both the big band and the more intimate CJO combo.

Clairdee is the recipient of many enthusiastic reviews and has recently performed at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and toured extensively throughout Russia with the Philharmonic Jazz Society. Highly regarded in the USA, she has appeared across the nation from Jazz at Lincoln Center to the Monterey Jazz Festival performing with her quartet and numerous artists as diverse as Bucky Pizzarelli, Boz Scaggs, Cyrus Chestnut, and clarinet virtuoso Ken Peplowski, and opening for David Sanborn, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the late, great Etta James.

"My mission is to uplift and inspire through music," Clairdee says. "In that regard, I consider myself a soul singer, reaching from the inside out, sharing stories, stirring emotions, helping my listeners feel good."

The Capital Jazz Orchestra is a distinguished group of big band veterans comprised of alumni from such well known Orchestras as Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, as well as the more recent Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and the band of Toshiko Akiyoshi. They have collectively shared the stage with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Jack Jones and Joe Williams to name only a few. This hand picked ensemble, comprised of some of the best big band jazz musicians across the United States have enjoyed capacity houses on a recent national tour and have been met with critical acclaim for their exciting performances.

Music Director Clayton (or "Skip" as he is known to his family and friends) is enjoying his 34th year of bringing professional quality music to appreciative audiences. He has served as music director for such diverse groups as the The Northeast Symphony Orchestra, The New England Society Orchestra, The New England Wind Symphony and The Capital Jazz Orchestra.

Tickets are $45 for Gold Circle, $35 for Orchestra/Mezzanine ($20 for students), and $20 for balcony. Tickets are available by calling 603-225-1111, online at www.ccanh.com, and at the box office, located at 44 South Main Street, Concord, NH on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Show sponsored by AARP.