Sue Matthews and Robert Redd Perform Music from the Great American Songbook

Vocalist Sue Matthews and pianist Robert Redd return to the Mainstay and will bepresenting their ‘Songbook Series’ show, “The Life and Music of Lena Horne”.

Sue and Robert have presented their many ‘Great American Songbook Series’ shows both nationally and internationally at Jazz Festivals and concert halls. These shows highlight the lives and work of popular musicians from the first half of the 20th century: Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Judy Garland, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Hoagy Carmichael….

Sue Matthews has been releasing recordings and traveling worldwide since the early 1990’s, winning over critics and audiences alike with her silky voice, deft phrasing and passion for finding every bit of meaning in a song. Matthews has been a featured artist with the Calgary Philharmonic, The Florida Symphony, the Saluzzo Musical Festival in Italy and many times at the Clifden Arts Week Festival in County Galway, Ireland. She has become a favorite throughout mid-Atlantic jazz clubs, festivals and concert halls, and on the Eastern Shore.

Robert Redd tours internationally as the pianist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. A resident of D.C., for over 20 years Redd was a member of the Wolf Trap Jazz Trio (the in-house jazz trio for their educational component), musical director for Kenny Rankin, and has performed with John Pizzarelli, Melba Moore, and the Artie Shaw Band.

With Sue and Robert will be two exceptional musicians from the D.C. area; James King on bass, and Anita Thomas on clarinet and also saxophone.

James King, has a lyrical bass style and has played with many jazz legends who have come to the D.C. area to perform at the legendary Blue’s Alley, Wolf Trap and Kennedy Center.

Australian-born Anita Thomas is a a highly sought-after jazz musician who has appeared in jazz festivals and on recordings with jazz stars such as Rebecca Kilgore and Emma Pask.