Blackdowns Early Music Projects – Spirit of the Blues

The first Third Thursday of 2023 starts with a new sort of early music, blues and spirituals dating from around a century ago, sung by Julia Titus with Steve Graham on cornet and Mike Denham on keyboard. Both Steve and Mike are well known on the Jazz circuits in the South West and further afield, being part of the nationally acclaimed Sunset Cafe Stompers. They frequently work with Julia Titus, an actress, poet, singer and songwriter. Among her talents is the ability to convincingly put over the songs of that great blues & vaudeville singer of the 1920s, Bessie Smith. Building on her passion for the ‘Empress of the Blues’, Julia started to perform as Ma Bessie, sharing the music of Ms Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation of listeners. Expect to hear classics including ‘Careless Love’, ‘Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out’, ‘Gimme A Pig Foot (And A Bottle Of Beer)’, and of course ‘Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight’, all delivered with verve and style. The programme, in this lovely venue, will be completed with a selection of Gospel numbers, another genre in which Julia delights!