What's On

Ladies of the Blues

Ladies of the Blues will be the captivating finale of the 23Arts Hot Jazz Weekend. Led by the incomparable vocalist Shenel Johns and supported by the renowned New York Jazz Sextet, this show will take you on a musical journey through the rich repertoire of legendary blues icons.

Curated especially for Nevill Holt, join us for an international celebration of some of the great female singers of the 1920s and 1930s, including Bessie Smith, Ethel Watters and Billie Holliday.

The New York Jazz Sextet is a unique ensemble of exceptional US jazz musicians led by renowned trumpeter Dominick Farinacci and his fellow band members, all virtuoso in their own right. With Ladies of the Blues marking the band’s only event in Europe this year, join us for this invaluable experience!

 

This event finished on Sunday 01 June 2025

Location: Theatre

Age Recommendation: Suitable for all ages

Duration: 70 minutes

Ladies of the blues. A black female singer on a stage in a gold glitter dress standing behind a. microphone

More About This Event

See timeless classics brought to life by the Ladies of the Blues.

Led by the stunning vocalist Shenel Johns, this show will take you on a musical journey through the rich repertoire of legendary blues icons such as Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, whose powerful voices and passionate performances laid the foundations for the genre.

This concert will also pay homage to other greats, including Ethel Waters and the incomparable Billie Holiday. Shenel Johns, with her dynamic stage presence and vocal prowess, will bring timeless classics to life, ensuring an unmissable experience. Join us for an afternoon of heartfelt artistry, rich history, and the indomitable spirit of the women who shaped this music.

Musicians

Shenel Johns

Vocalist

Dominick Farinacci

Trumpet

Patrick Bartley, Jr.

Saxophone & clarinet

Jerome Jennings

Drums

Yasushi Nakamura

Bass

Mathis Picard

Piano

Christian Tamburr

Vibraphone

Anush Hovhannisyan

Soprano

‘With a voice that embodies grace and passion and a personal style that sways effortlessly from jazz to R&B to gospel, Shenel Johns has emerged as one of the shining stars of her generation’

All About Jazz

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Nevill Holt Festival

The festival will continue to present a varied and rich programme of events in addition to opera that includes a wide range of talks and ‘in conversation’ events on visual art, culture, history, politics, wellbeing, sport and design as well as jazz, classical and world music performances, family events and comedy. See the full programme here. 

With panoramic views that look out over three counties, performance venues include the estate’s medieval chapel and award-winning theatre, with idyllic gardens designed by Chelsea gold medal winner, Rupert Golby. Festival-goers can enjoy outstanding pieces of modern British sculpture throughout the gardens, including works by Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Allen Jones and Marc Quinn