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A Tribute To Ella Fitsgerald - First Lady of Song "Talk about heaven on earth! What a night! I urge you - no I beg you to catch this show. This is cabaret at its finest" Stu Hamstra "As you know Sue is one of my all time favorite singers and she has reclaimed many forgotten songs for me -- Sue appeared with the beginning riff of "Perdido" and proceeded to wipe out a sold out club with an truly extraordinary tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. It was a show of many highlights --- her "Lullaby of Birdland" (which I first saw Ella do at a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in San Jose when I was at Stanford) was on the nose; she did a funny special lyric to "I Won't Dance" called "I Won't Scat" during which the band teasted her and taunted her into scatting (you have to hear it to believe it, it is one the most incredible special lyric standards I've heard in ages). Then she proceeded to show the range of Ella in several selections, the best of Ella ranging from the Berlin "Mack The Knife" with the special ad lib lyrics; an incredibly heartbreaking "Can't We Be Friends" (restoring another Mildred Baily original); a simple "Here's That Rainy Day" after narrating a particularly dark incident in Ella's life in 1956; some real humorous forgotten pieces from Ella's repertoire "Too Young For the Blues", "You're an Old Smoothie", and two of the Louis Armstrong duets. Don't miss this show when she does it again in the future! It's my nominee for all the cabaret awards for female singer. Joe Regan "Sue Matsuki gave an incredible performance of Ella Fitzgerald songs on the eve of my birthday. I couldnt have had a better celebration if I brought Ella back from the "other side!" I have traveled to Las Vegas to hear Sue and she has the ability to transport me to the most wondrous places with her mellifluous tones. This time I only had to cross the George Washington Bridge. I brought with me two friends and they were so delighted. The gentleman had heard Ella in Berlin many years ago. When Sue mentioned Berlin and began to sing, his eyes welled up and felt as if he had been transported back in time. Sue created unforgettable moments...again! KUDOS!" Barbara Nagpal I would like to echo Joe's sentiments...Ella has to be be smiling down on Sue Matsuki today! Her show last night was SENSATIONAL!!! Kudos to you, Sue, & to your SENSATIONAL band led by Gregory Torian. I hope you bring it back. I see another MAC AWARD in your future! Lennie deserves a special MAC Award for the high level of quality shows booked at Mama Rose's. Thanks to ALL involved for creating BLUE SKIES last night at Mama Rose's! Here she is, boys...Here she is world! Here's the place to be! Richard Skipper |
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