Kim Nalley Brings The Heart Of Lady Day To The Rrazz Room 8/20 Thru 8/23

Kim Nalley, internationally acclaimed vocalist, presents Billie Holiday's songbook in four performances at The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF, from August 20-23. Kim will also perform two late shows with jazz organist Rhoda Scott on Aug 21 and 22. Her "Heart of Lady Day" shows are at 8 PM, with the Sunday show at 7 PM. The shows with Rhoda Scott are at 10 PM. Tickets are $30-35 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399.

Jazz and Blues vocalist Kim Nalley developed the historical/biographical "The Heart of Lady Day" show after starring in a play about Billie Holiday's early years. As a history graduate of UC Berkeley, she often combines music and history in her concerts. Recently named one of the "Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area," Kim was first brought to national attention by SF Symphony director Michael Tilson Thomas after he discovered her singing to packed audiences in San Francisco. Since then, she has recorded several critically-acclaimed CDs including her latest release, She Put A Spell On Me: Kim Sings Nina Simone, which was short listed for a Grammy, and Million Dollar Secret, which charted in the Jazz Top 40. Often named San Francisco's Best Jazz Singer, this appearance marks her debut performances at The Rrazz Room.

Kim has performed globally, including most of the major jazz festivals in United States, Europe, Japan and Canada. She lived in Europe for several years before returning to San Francisco to re-open the jazz club Jazz at Pearl's.

Rhoda Scott is one of the few jazz musicians playing the organ. She was first attracted to the organ in her father's church at age seven. "The first thing I did was take my shoes off and work the pedals," she says. From then on she always played the organ in her bare feet, and now Scott uses the pedals to play a genuine bass line, which allows her to use her left hand for more elaborate chord work. The resulting music is an energetic fusion of musical genres that mixes jazz, gospel, and classical styles.