Antoinette Montague to Perform at NY Baha'i Center, 5/14

Renowned jazz vocalist and recording artist Antoinette Montague (antoinettemontague.com) will perform at The NY Baha'i Center in Manhattan (53East 11th Street) on Tuesday, May 14, at 8 PM and 9:30 PM. She will be supported on piano by Danny Mixon, on bass by Lyle Atkinson and on drums by George Grey. There is a $15 cover charge. For reservations, call 212-222-5159.

Born and raised in Newark, Antoinette Montague has a love of humanity and music that brings joy to people. She has played most of the major jazz clubs in New York, and recently performed with the 46-piece Ashdod Orchestra in Israel, and with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra in Russia. Her popularity is just as strong here in the US as in other nations by people who enjoy the spirit she loves to bring inside of her music. Jimmy Heath says, "Antoinette has the instrument, delivery and enunciation, when performing, that touches my soul."

Antoinette first became interested in jazz as a young girl in Newark. She was drawn to the music by her mother who was always singing and sounded like Ella Fitzgerald. Her interest was further jump started by her dad who "on Saturdays would drop me off at the Newark Public Library on his way to work. There I would listen to Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington." Years later Montague met up with the renowned Etta Jones, who became her mentor. "She encouraged me. It's going to be wonderful," she told me. Montague released her first CD, "Pretty Blues," in 2006 featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller, saxophonist Bill Easley, drummer Kenny Washington, and bassist Peter Washington - the same group of influential jazz players featured on her recent CD "Behind The Smile." Montague has appeared on the cover of Jazz Improv NY Magazine and on two book covers of Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret and Music.

She has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Kitano Jazz, Jazzmobile's Summer Breeze Concert Series and as curator and Mistress of Ceremonies for the tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor, and "A Lions Roar: A Tribute to Detroit's own Barry Harris" for PJS Jazz in Mt Vernon, NY. She's also appeared at renowned performance venues like The Zebra Room in Harlem's Lenox Lounge, the Blue Note, Jazz Standard and more.