Jazzbones offers a ritzy retro night of serious girl power

By Kristin Kendle on September 11, 2014

Who doesn't like a little pizzazz with their jazz? Short answer? No one. Jazzy tunes inherently beg to be paired with a little spice, like a beer and a plate of nachos (don't hold the jalapenos), like a fine wine and ... well, actually pairing wine and spicy food is kind of tricky.

Jazzbones has noted this pairing potential and set out to create the perfect show - soulful tunes both local and from afar coupled with just the right amount of spice. Enter the tri-fold powerhouse that is Davina and The Vagabonds, Champagne Sunday and Gritty City Sirens.

"I heard Davina's Amy-Winehouse-meets-Louis-Armstrong voice layered over the groups piano and brass section and knew that fans of Jazzbones would fall head over heels as I did," says Danno Rankin, general manager at Jazzbones - aka, the man who put this madness all together. "I decided to sprinkle some Tacoma love on it and booked one of my long-time favorites, Champagne Sunday. Adding the Gritty City Sirens burlesque to perform between the sets seemed like a no-brainer as both groups lend to a timeless and sassy ragtime New Orleans jazz sound that will take the audience back to the 1930s era with a new-aged twist." While Davina and The Vagabonds hail from the Midwest, Champagne Sunday and the Gritty City Sirens are both local acts.

For this one evening, Jazzbones will not only be filled to the gills with ritzy retro atmosphere, but also with some serious girl power.

"If I were promoting this show, I think I'd call it: Skin, Soul and a Shit-ton of Fun!" says Jessi Freeden, the soulful voice behind Champagne Sunday. "When we were asked to be on the bill we jumped at the opportunity, even postponing another gig that we had all ready booked for that night. All of these strong, gorgeous, talented women on one stage ... are you kidding me?! Perfect!"

For those new to Champagne Sunday, their sound has been compared to Pearl Jam meets Bette Midler - an intriguing combo, if ever there was one. They like to mix up genres and put some theatrical flare into their performances, which is just one of many reasons why this lineup felt so right. While Freeden isn't positive which of their songs will make the cut for the Jazzbones show, she noted that several of their songs have a cabaret-ish, vaudevillian flare and those will likely be out in full force.

"Also," she adds, "we do an unbelievable cover of Cab Calloway's ‘Minnie the Moocher'. You would be remiss if you didn't stay for that number."

In between the two musical sets, burlesque troupe Gritty City Sirens will take to the stage to sprinkle the aforementioned spice liberally into the show.

"Heather Hostility and I will be rounding out the evening's entertainment with a titillating burlesque performance from each of us," says Gritty City Sirens' Rosie Cheex. "I have a new act to showcase for this event and Heather will be doing one of her favorite crowd pleasing acts. Both groups have a theatrical appeal in their acts, and our burlesque celebrates the feminine form with glamor and humor."  

DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS, w/Champagne Sunday, Gritty City Sirens, 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, $15, 253.396.9169