MELBA'S KITCHEN

MELBA’S KITCHEN - the all-women big band spotlighting Black women musical geniuses Melba Liston and Mary Lou Williams, and their friends - delivers the holiday swing and soul to YOSHI’S.  The “…Crackling!…unit” (Downbeat) lights up the pre-Solstice with Strayhorn/Ellington “Nutcracker” selections and legendary Liston and Williams compositions. 

The band will wrap up Melba Liston’s Centennial year with new pieces developed from Liston’s catalog, in-house compositions, and some seasonal surprises.  

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

MELBA’S KITCHEN honors the under-recognized jazz great MELBA LISTON and her formidable contributions to jazz. Liston toured with and wrote for Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, and collaborated for decades - in the Ellington/ Strayhorn mode - with piano titan Randy Weston. Liston had a great big beautiful sound on the trombone, and was a pioneer as a woman in jazz.  She arranged for many, including Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, Marvin Gaye, Clark Terry, and Ruth Brown. Liston also arranged for her dear friend and inspiration, MARY LOU WILLIAMS, who was an activist for jazz, a virtuosic and inspired pianist, composer, and arranger.  MELBA’S KITCHEN intends to bring Liston’s and Williams’ names into your musical household.

(Photo by Stu Brinin)

(Headshot Photo by Ireme Young)