Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Billie Holiday, acclaimed pianist Lara Downes will play a show highlighting her new album A Billie Holiday Songbook, on April 15th, 9pm at Decca Restaurant.
Downes grew up listening to Holiday’s recordings with her father, who was born and raised in Harlem only blocks from the iconic jazz clubs where Lady Day was a star presence in the 1930s and '40s. Downes acknowledges that Holiday’s singing has been a lifelong influence. “As a musician, I learned from Billie Holiday to make something completely personal when you make music,” she says. “To make something that is completely your own - maybe something unexpected, something indefinable, perhaps complicated, but beautiful. To take a chance. To quote this album’s final song: “But beautiful to take a chance, and if you fall, you fall. And I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind at all.”
Check out this preview of the concert. And also join her for Lunchtime Classics on April 15th at noon.
