Jazz Room Presents: Melissa Morgan: Sings Billie Holiday

Philadelphia-based vocalist Melissa Morgan, known for her retro, earthy tone evocative of classic jazz stylings of the past, returns to the JAZZ ROOM to reimagine ‘Lady Day’, one of her greatest influences. Melissa Morgan is a soulful singer that tells her story with a vulnerability that endears the audience to go along the journey with her. Her voice is a painting with many colors and textures, and as Joni Mitchell said, “has many blues”. Jazz wasn’t an early find for Melissa. She started with classical piano and voice, singing with classical choirs and eventually studying opera with Dr. Maredia Warren and Katherine Harris. Melissa found jazz her senior year in high school, thus switching her major from classical voice to jazz, receiving her BA SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. “This is a wake up call. Melissa Morgan is a contagious true jazz singer and she simply grows on you with intoxication. She fulfills prerequisites for the status of an extraordinary and refreshing authentic jazz singer. I predict she is the one we’ve been waiting for.” — Dr. Herb Wong, jazz critic, historian, educator, former president of IAJE “Melissa Morgan isn’t copying anybody.” — London Evening Standard “The more audacious Morgan is decidedly salty.” — Jazz Times “Given the spicy edge in her sexy voice, her dry allure and the way she pops the words like a whip on a gospel choir, Morgan’s time has come.” — DownBeat