Molly McGee Sings Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald is sometimes known as “The First Lady of Song” for her ability to take jazz standards and turn them into works of art. Emerging as a featured vocalist with the Chick Webb Orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, Fitzgerald would go on to become the most prolific singer of the jazz age, recording anthologies of tunes from the Great American Songbook with the great producer Norman Granz at Verve Records. Noted for her impeccable phrasing, original interpretations of melodies and instrument-like scatting capacity, Ella literally wrote the book when it comes to the art of the jazz singer.

To pay tribute to Fitzgerald’s legacy, club director Bill Martin has invited singer Molly McGee from Christchurch to perform five classic standards at Hanover Hall with the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra on Saturday 18 May. Using original arrangements, McGee will perform the numbers “Blue Skies”, “Cheek to Cheek”, “Shiny Stockings”, “Fascinating Rhythm” and “Can’t We Be Friends” with the seventeen piece Big Band. Indeed, Molly might herself be known as “The First Lady of Hanover Hall”, after she performed at the opening event of the Dunedin Jazz Club in 2021.

To show the influence of Fitzgerald on her own style, McGee will also perform a number of jazz standards in the second set with a small combo, including Ralph Miller on trumpet, Martin on piano, Andy Lynch on bass and Erik Dekker on drums. McGee trained in music at the University of Otago but has been developing her repertoire and style as a performer and teacher in Christchurch. She is a favourite with local audiences in Dunedin and will no doubt relish the opportunity to perform swinging numbers such as “Twisted”, “Night and Day”, “Lullaby of Birdland”, “Nice Work if You Can Get It”, as well as the ballad “Bewitched”.

Hanover Hall is a licensed venue with a cash bar.

Personnel for the Hanover Hall All Stars:

Molly McGee (vocals)

Ralph Miller (trumpet)

Bill Martin (piano)

Andy Lynch (bass)

Erik Dekker (drums)

Molly McGee Sings Ella Fitzgerald

Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by Bill Martin

Hanover Hall All Stars (Bill Martin, Ralph Miller, Andy Lynch, Erik Dekker)

Saturday, 18 May, 7:30pm

Dunedin Jazz Club @ Hanover Hall

Timings: 7 pm doors open, 7:30 Set One, 8:15 break, 8:30 Set Two, 9:30 Finish.

Adult: $28.75 (includes $3.75 GST) Cash $30

Senior / Unwage: $23 (includes $3 GST) Cash $25

Student: $17.25 (includes $2.25 GST) Cash $20

Molly McGee Bio:

Molly McGee, jazz vocalist from Christchurch, New Zealand, found her calling in music at a young age. A graduate of Otago University School of Performing Arts, she's become enmeshed in the local jazz scene. From leading vocals in Christchurch bands Sideline Swing and Silverlocks to teaching voice at Hagley Community College and SOLE Music Academy, Molly's passion for vocal jazz knows no bounds. She also shares her passion for swing, teaching lindyhop, and blues dancing with the Swingtown Rebels. Inspired by Ella Fitzgerald, Molly's performances transport audiences to the golden era of jazz, leaving them spellbound with her soulful voice and infectious energy.