Think back to the Jazz Age, when your grandparents—or more likely your great-grandparents—were cutting a rug to swing bands. This will provide some idea of what to expect when Heidi Evelyn’s 14-piece jazz orchestra takes the stage July 30 at Jazz in the Plazz.
This enchanting songstress and bandleader captures the essence of vintage jazz from the Roaring ’20s through the ’40s. Evelyn embraces the air with her smooth melodic voice, exploring the entertaining, rich and varied legacy of vintage jazz.
Together Evelyn and her band perform authentic vintage jazz and swing music, recalling the days of Flappers dancing the Charleston, Depression-era tunes, Prohibition naughtiness and the mournful wails of early blues fusion. Evelyn dynamically infuses the music with a danceable, contemporary flair.
This music is derived from a time when life was simpler, and its syncopation and swing became known around the world as uniquely American. Jazz, America’s gift to the world. Cool jazz telling tales of the times. Jazz, the music that helped break down racial barriers—and continues to build bridges at home and around the world.
Ain’t Misbehaving
Evelyn’s cool delivery of classic lyrics like “If you want my love you gotta do more than that” and “Please don’t talk about me when I am gone” is enchanting, creating a richly entertaining repertoire of vintage jazz with entrancing solos by the individual artists.
Evelyn is recognized here in the Bay Area as a prominent expert in vintage jazz. She leads multiple bands through solid performances, authentically researched and expertly performed. Her musicians are exceptional, with an impressive command of their instruments and a thorough knowledge of early jazz. That expertise draws a dedicated crowd that dances to the band’s tight swing arrangements, further adding to the audience’s enjoyment.
Evelyn and company play 6:30–8:30pm at the Los Gatos Town Plaza. For more on the band, visit heidievelynjazz.com.
For information on the Wednesday concert series, which runs through Aug. 20, visit jazzontheplazz.com. On Aug. 6, Jazz Mafia will perform at 6:30pm. This electrifying group of San Francisco musicians will play a bit of this and a dash of that, propelled by a strong brass section with trombone, trumpet, saxophone and, most important, a tuba. This is a mafia that will make you an offer you won’t want to refuse.
