MELBA'S KITCHEN

MELBA’S KITCHEN big band

All women big band celebrating Black women musical geniuses MELBA LISTON and MARY LOU WILLIAMS with a special toast to MARY WATKINS

MELBA’S KITCHEN, the all women big band celebrating Black women musical geniuses Melba Liston and Mary Lou Williams and their friends, swings back to YOSHI’s to take you on a dazzling musical journey.

Mary Watkins, the Oakland-based world-class composer, arranger and performer, who works in multiple genres from orchestral to jazz, from funk and soul to opera, will be in attendance as the band performs two new in-house arrangements of her iconic pieces.

MELBA’s KITCHEN is honored to play these vibrant works that span decades of Watkins’ prodigious oeuvre. MELBA’S KITCHEN takes a deep dive into the sophisticated and soulful compositions and arrangements of Liston and Williams, jazz giants who accomplished so much, yet were recognized in such low proportion to what they contributed.

In addition to multiple appearances at YOSHI’s, the Freight and Salvage, and San Francisco’s de Young Museum (in conjunction with exhibits extolling the Black Arts Movement and Faith Ringgold), MELBA’SKITCHEN has performed at the National Women’s Music Festival, where the band was lauded with the “Janine Rae Award for the Advancement of Women’s Culture.” Earlier this year, the band made their debut appearance at SFJAZZ Miner Auditorium for a celebration of Bay Area women in jazz.

MELBA’S KITCHEN is a “talent-packed ensemble” (Andy Gilbert), “so astonishing - they are so swinging” (Dr. Dee Spencer), that delivers “a marvelous night and good vibes all around.” (Rebeca Mauleon)

Step into an early-summer night’s jazz dream with MELBA’S KITCHEN on JUNE 26 at YOSHI’s, where the tributes to women in jazz will glow in the prelude to Pride.

photo:  James Knox

photo:  James Knox

photo: Irene Young