Look out! Lavay is back!
We love this wild and crazy lady.
Lavay Smith is internationally recognized as The Queen Of Classic Jazz & Blues in the authentic style of the 1940's and 1950's. Lavay's last album received a prestigious 4 & 1/2 Star review in Downbeat magazine.
For details on July 9, Click Here;
http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/?method=pages.showpage&PageID=fbd86f9f-f8b3-d605-0c12-e2fc85607f1e&WineryID=ccfb1398-cbb1-13a8-2060-60519bcc4868
“Lavay is wonderful! She and her band are a breath of fresh air. It is so unlikely and so exciting that a band would appear on the scene today that plays classic jazz and blues so well and so convincingly.”
---Johnny Otis
“The San Francisco-based Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are a notable exception to the retro-swing norm. The saucy vocalist and her eight-piece crew actually know the difference between jump music and bland R&B in corny suits. They have been a working unit since 1989 and sound as tight as the legendary musicians they choose to emulate.”
---Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe
“A lush vocal style recalling both Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington.”
----Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
“Splendid vocals and exemplary material.” ---Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat
“Hands-down the best thing to come out of the jump/swing revival...the gal can sing her tail off.”
---Paul de Barros, Seattle Times
“First-rate vocals...magnificent arrangements...the best combo in town.”
--- Phil Elwood, San Francisco Examiner
“A living testament to the jump-blues era, Lavay is an impassioned singer.”
---William Stephenson, Jazziz
“As close to the real deal as you can get.” ---Adam Mazmanian, The New York Press
“Pure class and a sense of humor...a time machine in vintage threads.”---Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue
“As a singer, Smith is both ravishing and compelling, and her band, led by pianist Chris Siebert, is world-class.” ---Marian Wallace, Alternative Press Magazine
“Outstanding...the real deal. Unlike some retro-swing outfits that put posturing above musicianship, Smith and her red-hot musicians are schooled in the nuances of blues, swing, and bop.”
---Lee Hildebrand, East Bay Express
“The Skillet Lickers are bona fide jazz players, proffering chops and Basie-esque arrangements to shame all other modern groups of their ilk. Then there's Smith, whose sultry vocals readily betray the influence of Billie Holiday, Little Esther and Dinah Washington while sounding slavish to none.”
--Buddy Siegal, Orange County Weekly
“I love this band-they’re great!” ---President Bill Clinton
