DeLaria & Hersch Perform at Fresh Fruit's Jazz Greats 7/9

The Fresh Fruit Festival, in association with All Out Arts will present "Can't Prove It On Me: Celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Jazz Greats" on Monday, July 9 at 9:30PM at Joe's Pub.

The event is produced and hosted by Rome Neal and benefits the Fresh Fruit Festival and the Jazz Foundation of America's "Fund for New Orleans' Musicians." Special guests scheduled to appear Lea DeLaria (The Rocky Horrow Show, On the Town) and Fred Hersch (pianist/composer and two-time Grammy winner).

Rome will be joined by singers ButtaFlySoul, Tulivu Donna-Cumberbach, Carol Randazzo, pianist Courtney Bryan, tap dancer Laraine Goodman and the All Ladies' Band.

"The program highlights a full-throttle tribute to LGBT jazz greats including Billy Strayhorn, Bessie Smith, "Ma" Rainey, Billy Tipton and Sun Ra," states press notes, "This promises to be an evening of celebrating LGBT's community greats of jazz through their life and work using music, spoken word, video and dance."

VIP Tickets ($65) include a reception following the show.  General admission tickets ($25) with a two drink or $12 food minimum and can be purchased by calling Joe's Pub at 212-967-7555. Joe's Pub is located at 425 Lafayette Street.

Fresh Fruit's mission is to share the LGBT community's unique perspective, creativity and diversity and to build links between the LGBT, local, national and international artistic communities as well as to the general public. 

For more details:  www.FreshFruitFestival.com and www.jazzfoundation.org

Photo: Lea Delaria (2006) by Linda Lenzi