Featured on The Jazz Network Worldwide This Week: Vintage Jazz Era Vocalist Roberta Donnay & The Prohibition Mob Band’s Motema Music Release, 'Bathtub Gin'.
(PRWEB) September 28, 2015 -- A seductive vocalist, Donnay and her band swing mightily with this authentic collection of vintage jazz, blues and swing that introduces listeners to the swing era with its jump-swing rhythmic horn sections and new dances. Donnay also includes four party-rousing shout-chorus originals that evoke and revive the open spirit that birthed jazz.
She says of the era's music, "I think it's in everybody's DNA. Our grandparents listened to that music and somehow, it filtered down inside of us.” How far can the Prohibition Mob Band go? "To the moon," she says, laughing.
Honoring the tradition of such seminal singers as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker, Donnay’s spitfire is on display from the moment the original title track “Bathtub Gin” opens the set. Following is the song, also original, “Throw Your Heart (Over The Fence)."
Roberta Donnay’s background in roots jazz music came from listening to records, singing with the legendary Dick Oxtot’s Golden Age Jazz Band and more obscure jazz and jazz-folk bands. Donnay continues to produce, write, record, and perform as an independent artist. Her goal is to produce many more records and continue to bring this great music to the people. “Bathtub Gin” is Ms. Donnay’s 8th independent release. The “Oh Papa” video from Donnay’s CD “A Little Sugar” is a brilliant example of the style of presentation Donnay presents (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twz_Qq5YzYI).
Donnay has shared the stage, opened, or performed with Ernestine Anderson, Bob Dorough, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Dr. John, Diana Krall, George Benson, David Sanborn, Leon Russell, Dan Hicks, Bonnie Raitt, David Grisman, Bruce Forman, Rickie Lee Jones, Big Walter Horton, John Hammond, Lee Ritenour, Booker T., and Tuck & Patti.
"Donnay's voice could make any classic material sound wondrous and timeless, but the fact that she digs so deep into American musical history -- and works with some of the Bay Area's top jazz musicians (under the guise of the Prohibition Mob Band) -- makes 'A Little Sugar' not only sweet, but a recording that will stand the test of time." ~ All Music Guide
"With her singularly enticing sound, few contemporary vocalists are as well suited to dustily vintage material as jazz-blues stylist Roberta Donnay. She effectively proved so three years ago when, teamed with her Prohibition Mob Band, she surveyed standards from the 1920s and ’30s on the charming 'A Little Sugar.' Now, she’s back for more." ~ Jazz Times 2015
"Donnay takes old school jazz, makes it new cool and most of all makes it fun. It swings and it swings hard. Old school has never sounded better and Roberta Donnay is certainly a name to remember! (5 stars)" ~ Critical Jazz blog
"This jazz baby makes the '20s roar again and swings out '30s tunes buoyantly enough to float away even the Great Depression…. She's backed by top-notch musicians and the results are gloriously entertaining." ~ San Jose Mercury News
“Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band bring back the true essence of the Roaring '20s, when music and class went hand and hand. ...No wonder DownBeat gave 'Bathtub Gin' four stars!" ~ Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide.
A festival favorite, Donnay's group appeared as a guest artist at many shows and festivals, including the Exit 0 Jazz Fest in N.J., Whiskey Fest in Portland, San Jose Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Mustard Mud & Music Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and are currently seeking festival bookings for the 2016-2017 calendar.
Roberta was asked to be a part of an event very close to her heart, which is the memorial for the legendary jazz producer and jazz master Orrin Keepnews at Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA, on November 29, 2015, where she will pay homage to their musical relationship.
Please check "Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band's" feature on The Jazz Network Worldwide at http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com. To purchase and learn more, go to iTunes (http://smarturl.it/BathtubGin) and http://www.robertadonnay.com.
For booking inquiries contact:
Joy Montana
joy(dot)montana(at)rocketmail(dot)com
415-381-6290
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Roberta Donnay, Rainforest Productions, http://www.robertadonnay.com, +1 (415) 519-8804, [email protected]
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