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Building on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus started to perform as Ma Bessie in mid-2015 to share the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners. Mixing Julia's rich, warm vocal sound with a dynamic group of musicians that look as well as sound the part, Ma Bessie combines classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years with a selection of original songs and hand-picked covers from the last 50 years of popular music. Whether you're looking for a duo or trio for an intimate club gig or a full five-piece band for a large festival stage, Ma Bessie has something for you.
The Ma Bessie repertoire includes classics such as 'Careless Love', 'Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out' and, of course, 'Gimme A Pig Foot (And A Bottle Of Beer)'. The band can also add additional songs in order to give you the tailor-made performance your event deserves.
With sell-out performances across the UK and a growing reputation for their authentic sound, Ma Bessie can help to add some style, class and excitement to any event, club or festival.
Ma Bessie
Nicknamed the “Empress of the Blues”, Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on other jazz singers. Ma Bessie and her Blues Troupe perform to a narrated show, featuring music from the era and showcasing many of Bessie’s songs. The show chronicles her life from a one-room shack in Blue Goose Hollow, to becoming the highest-paid black entertainer of that time, to the tragic accident on Route 61 in September 1937 that ended her life aged 43 years. Band members: Julia Titus (Ma Bessie/vocals), Sam Kelly (drums), Paul Jobson (MD/piano), Tony Qunta (acoustic guitar), Marianne Windham (double bass), Clare Hirst (sax/clarinet), Claude Deppa (trumpet).
See Ma Bessie tour dates
Chapel Arts Centre
- Website:
- chapelarts.org
- Disabled Booking:
- 01225 461700
See all events at Chapel Arts Centre
Chapel Arts Centre
- Website:
- chapelarts.org
- Disabled Booking:
- 01225 461700
See all events at Chapel Arts Centre
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on Sat 24 May 2025