The Mulgrew Miller and Johnny O’Neal smackdown was off-the-hook last Saturday, but there’s one more to come for 2007. Singer Denise Thimes will be closing out Rochester’s Exodus to Jazz Series this year, returning to Rochester on Saturday, December 15, 2007, for two shows (7:00 pm and 9:00 pm) at VENU Resto-Lounge & Niteclub. She will be accompanied by pianist Helen Sung, bassist Ben Williams and drummer Quincy Davis. Thimes has a brilliant voice that mentor Clark Terry described as a perfect mix of “Ella, Sassy, Lady Day, Nancy, Dianne and Carmen.” Since she debuted in Rochester earlier this year in March, Denise’s busy year was highlighted by a request from Queen Elizabeth to perform during a private British Embassy gala on May 8, 2007, where she received a standing O from the Queen, Prince Phillip and our own Pres & Lady Bush. Denise hails from St. Louis, where one of my fellow metro jazz bloggers writes St. Louis Jazz Notes also wrote about the appearance (as a home town girl, he’s written about her from time to time).
Tickets for Exodus to Jazz are $17.00 through TicketWeb (search “Denise Thimes” or “Exodus To Jazz”). Tickets that are purchased at the door or by calling 585-325-9162 are $ 20.00; student tickets are $10.00 with a current Student ID.
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