The Victoria Jazz Society has announced performances by two stunning singer/songwriters, set to take the stage this month at Hermann’s Upstairs.
Former Postmodern Jukebox voice, Morgan James, plays Friday, March 4 (8 pm) and Canadian jazz icon Molly Johnson performs Thursday, March 17.
Tickets for both shows are available online at hermannsjazz.com.
Singer/songwriter, Broadway actress and former voice of Postmodern Jukebox, James returns to the island with her latest full album, Memphis Magnetic, a culmination of a life-long love affair with music. The album is an original soul album packed with emotion and real musical ingredients.
After graduating from The Juilliard School with a classical music degree and performing in the original companies of five Broadway productions, James went on to record and tour internationally with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, which covers pop songs with a vintage jazz twist.
According to The Wall Street Journal, “James has it all: soul, charm, chops, blue-chip musicianship and the kind of absolute individuality that makes her singing as recognizable as a fingerprint.”
In addition to James’ own studio albums, Reckless Abandon, Hunter and Memphis Magnetic, she recorded and released a full album cover of Joni Mitchell’s seminal Blue, as well as The Beatles’ White Album in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
Through her unique and varied career, she cultivated a new world of fans with her viral YouTube videos, and by connecting with them on social media and at her live shows, she found the support and strength to go out on her own as an independent artist.
With viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox, and her own channel, Morgan amassed more than 250 million views on YouTube, (and climbing).
Over the last several years, James has established herself as a touring powerhouse, allowing her to create her albums and make every decision from the ground up. Catch her live in a dazzling performance at Hermann’s Upstairs!
Molly Johnson’s voice evokes the aura of dark smoky nightclubs of a bygone era and speaks to an emotional depth that few vocalists in any genre ever reach. Like the woman behind it, her’s is a voice filled with humour, joy, surprise, sass and, of course, love.
“Molly has the kind of musical gift that cannot be cultivated. She has great natural musical instincts, and an irresistible signature to her voice…a rare and wonderful talent,” says Larry Klein, GRAMMY-winning producer.
Johnson’s latest album, Meaning To Tell Ya, mixes groovy funk, soul and jazz.
A JUNO winner and CBC Radio 2 host for five years, Johnson is also an Officer to the Order of Canada due to her philanthropic work for a variety of causes, and for her international contributions to the arts.
She has performed to sold-out halls throughout Canada and the world, including performances for the Prince and late Princess of Wales, as well as Nelson Mandela and legendary producer/multi-instrumentalist Quincy Jones.
Witness this Canadian jazz icon live in the intimate setting of Hermann’s Upstairs for an evening of sensational sounds and musical brilliance, and joined by Mike Downes, bass, and Robi Botos, piano.
