Mara Kaye | A Love Letter to the Blues

Sat, Apr 11

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Mara Kaye | A Love Letter to the Blues! Mara Kaye – Voice Lauryn Gould – Reeds Ryan Gould – Upright Bass Tim McNalley – Guitar About Mara Kaye: Brooklyn’s very own Queen of The Blues, Mara Kaye, is happily returning to Monks to honor the baddest, bossiest, wildest women of The Blues with support from Austin’s most beloved jazz duo: Lauryn Gould on Reeds and Ryan Gould on Upright Bass. This momentous evening will take you on a deep dive down to the roots of the blues tree highlighting songs from the godmothers of The Blues: Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and all the way up the branches to Billie Holiday to celebrate her 111th birthday. “For too many years, young jazz singers all but ignored the blues, but the attention now being paid to the form by outstanding young artists such as MARA KAYE is proof that things are getting better. This vivacious Brooklynite studies the classic blues the way the better cabaret singers of her generation studied Sondheim and invests 80-and-90-year-old texts with the force and spirit of her own considerable charisma. She specializes in the great songs of the Smith girls, not just the legendary Bessie, but also the highly worthy Mamie, Clara and Trixie.” - The Wall Street Journal About Lauryn Gould: Multi-instrumentalist, Lauryn Gould, enjoys a vibrant career as a performer, educator, composer/arranger, instigator, and community music facilitator in her hometown of Austin, TX, nationally, and abroad. She makes music in a wide variety of contexts, both locally and internationally, and has had the great privilege of collaborating with many of the bright lights in the central Texas music community. LG specializes in early jazz and swing music, primarily on saxophones and voice, though her formal education was initially in classical flute. She is the musical director of the Golden Hour Orchestra and Heptet, and is a member of The Relevators, Texas Moaners, Floyd Domino All-Stars, The Joymakers, Quilted Southerners, Charlie Christians, Bat City Brass Band, Moon Tower Brass Band, The Lovely Sparrows, The Brooks Prumo Orchestra, Katie Cavera and the Lost Boys, and The Traveling Janes, among others. NEW ADDRESS | 310 E SAINT ELMO ROAD, UNIT B AUSTIN TX 78745 Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm.