Las Vegas’ ‘First Lady of Jazz’ Honors Great Female Jazz Singers in a New Show That is ‘Strictly Taboo!’
In honor of Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial and the Great American Songbook, a new show celebrates the lives and voices of jazz’s most memorable female artists. Michelle Johnson, renowned Las Vegas singer, songwriter, and entertainer, will showcase her newest production titled Strictly Taboo! inside the Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on July 15 (Pictured: Michelle Johnson).
Music lovers will be immersed in everything jazz as Johnson and her special guest vocalists grace the stage with non-stop musical thrills, weaving together the stories of some of the greatest female jazz singers of all time.
The songstress and cast will honor the voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Rosemary Clooney, Etta James and so much more. Guest performers include Elyse Branch, Genevieve Dew, Naomi Mauro, Mary O., Kellie Wright, and Avana Christie. The show will also delve into the fascinating backgrounds of the artists, telling stories of scandal, love, triumph, tragedy, fashion, and of course, all the music.
The cast is accompanied by the Strictly Taboo Orchestra, the 17-piece big band under the direction of conductor Joe Escriba, who has produced numerous arrangements for production shows, television, film, radio, celebrities, and lounges worldwide and is the current associate music director of “Legends in Concert.”
Strictly Taboo! Takes place on Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m. inside the Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center located at 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets start at $22, plus applicable taxes and fees. To purchase tickets, call the Smith Center box office at 702.749.2000 or visit www.strictlytabooshow.com. For more information about Michelle Johnson, visit www.michellejohnson.com.