Ridgefield Playhouse to Welcome Bettye LaVette, 11/7

With a voice as powerful as Etta James' and a tale as gripping as Tina Turner's, the 2013 Blues Music Award Nominee for Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist Bettye Lavette will be in concert with a new album Thankful and Thoughtful at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, November 7, at 8 p.m. Bettye is a Grammy-nominee and veteran jazz artist whom The New York Times raves "now rivals Aretha Franklin as her generation's most vital soul singer." With fifty years in show business, Bettye Lavette is celebrating her eclectic soul, blues, rock 'n' roll, gospel, funk and country music legacy. Bettye's band includes bass, guitar, drums and keyboard in a stunning performance of her velvet-rich voice and gospel-based blues. To start the evening of jazz, wine and art in style, there will be a wine and cheese tasting by No. 109 Cheese & Wine at 7:15 p.m. and art exhibit in the lobby. Piccolo's Pizza & Jazzeria (Prospect St., Ridgefield) is offering a free glass of wine with dinner the night of the show when tickets are presented. This event is underwritten by Acousticmusic.org and is part of the Xfinity Rock Series with support from the Connecticut Blues Society with media sponsor WSHU.

Bettye Lavette's career has been sprinkled with numerous highlights including a 1978 disco smash "Doin' The Best That I Can". She briefly gave up recording for a six-year run in the Broadway hit Bubbling Brown Sugar, sharing the stage with Cab Calloway. In 2008, she received a Blues Music Award for "Best Contemporary Female Blues Singer". That same year, she delivered a rendition of 1973's "Love, Reign o'er Me" at the Kennedy Center Honors, a performance that was widely considered one of the event's highlights. The following year, Ms. LaVette performed a duet with Bon Jovi at one of the Obama Inaugural Celebrations. In 2009, she shared the stage with Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at Radio City Music Hall for a benefit concert. In 2010, LaVette released Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, which includes unique performances of classic songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals and Pink Floyd.

For tickets ($40), call or visit the box office at The Ridgefield Playhouse, (203) 438-5795 or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.

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