Zoellner presents jazz artist Nancy Wilson and Trio

Nancy Wilson will perform with The Nancy Wilson Trio at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24 at Zoellner Arts Center. The trio includes Llew Matthews on keyboard, John B. Williams on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums.
In conjunction with the 7 p.m. performance, Zoellner will offer a free pre-show talk at 6 p.m. by vocalist and bassist Nancy Reed, an international and national artist, who performs frequently at the Delaware Water Gap Jazz Festival.
Blurring the line between jazz and pop, Broadway and R&B, Wilson won the 2004 National Endowment for the Arts Award for Jazz Master’s Outstanding Vocalist, and was recently included in a two-CD set which included Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald. She recently released her own album R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal).
Discovered by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Wilson went on to sing the Grammy-winning (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am and You’re As Right As Rain. Additionally, 20 of her singles were R&B-charting. In her 50-year career, she recorded 37 original albums, including non-jazz pieces on Broadway My Way and Hollywood My Way. During the 1960s, her albums were second in sales only to the Beatles, surpassing Sinatra, Peggy Lee, the Beach Boys and Nat King Cole.
In 1991, at Barry Manilow’s request, Wilson recorded Johnny Mercer’s lyrics, which had never been put to music, to melodies that Manilow wrote. She was also the host of NPR’s series, Jazz Profiles.
Wilson had her own network series, The Nancy Wilson Show for which she won an Emmy Award. She also performed on The Andy Williams Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Flip Wilson Show and The Bill Cosby Show, among others.
Musical Director and keyboardist Llew Matthews, who has worked with Nancy Wilson since 1987, is also a composer and arranger. Bassist John B. Williams has worked with Wilson since 1995. Prior to that he was bassist with the “posse” on The Aresenio Hall Show and part of Doc Severinson’s Orchestra on The Tonight Show. He has worked with Pearl Bailey, Dizzy Gillespie, Lainie Kazan and recorded with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and others. Drummer Roy McCurdy has worked with Wilson since 1975, as well as with Count Basie, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan and other notable jazz musicians.
Tickets for the Oct. 24 performance are $38 (orchestra/front grand tier), $36 (back grand tier) and $30 (balcony). For tickets, call 610-758-2787 (7LU-ARTS), visit Zoellner Ticket Services, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 1l a.m.-2 p.m., and two hours before curtain, or order online. Student, senior, group and LVAIC discounts are available.
This performance is supported in part by Chaddsford Winery, performance sponsor; Wachovia, the Zoellner Arts Center 2004-2005 presenting sponsor, and by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.