Lakeport >> The Queens of Boogie Woogie return to the Soper Reese Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday with another unpredictable and soulful show. This year’s line-up of award winning American piano stylists are Liz Pennock of Florida, Sue Palmer from San Diego and San Francisco’s Wendy DeWitt. With new songs and improvisations, this concert promises to give jazz, boogie woogie, and blues piano fans romping soul satisfaction.
Piano player/singer Pennock began performing professionally as a solo artist in 1975. Pennock, who was born minus two fingers on each hand, a fact not evident from the other side of the piano, developed her own powerful ivory-tickling style. She established a reputation fierce enough to join Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry’s piano player), Pinetop Perkins, Bob Seeley, and Big Three of boogie woogie pianists, Albert Ammons, in the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall Of Fame in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2008.
Pennock and guitarist/vocalist Paul “Dr. Blues” Shambarger teamed up 1981 touring worldwide and releasing several albums. Her song writing ranges from the romantic to the rollicking, and she complements her two fisted piano with trombone and harmonica. Pennock and Dr. Blues performed with blues shouter Diamond Teeth Mary McClain from 1988 until 2000 when McClain died at age 97.
Notorious for her beehive-wearing stint with blues diva Candye Kane in the ‘90s, Palmer has been making her mark the last decade with her band, the Motel Swing Orchestra. She has performed with Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson, Hadda Brooks and Sonny Leyland. The City of San Diego has honored her by proclaiming an official Sue Palmer Day, and Palmer won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis for Best Self Produced CD and Best Blues Album. In December 2010, she won the Jim Croce Award for Excellence and Dedication to Music. Catch Palmer at boogie woogie festivals worldwide, on the road with Candye Kane and on her weekly radio show.
DeWitt is currently touring the United States in support of a blues charting album “Getaway” and returns to Europe for a month this coming December. Her work is inspired by Otis Spann and Ammons and seasoned by international festivals, work with Delmark recording artist Steve Freund and R&B musician Hank Ballard. Currently in the processing of writing her 10th album, DeWitt also organizes the Queens of Boogie Woogie shows, San Francisco International Boogie Woogie Festival and the Blues Piano Orgy series. DeWitt teaches workshops from coast to coast and is a 2014 International Blues Challenge Finalist with duo partner Kirk Harwood, who is know for his seminal recording work with Norton Buffalo.
DeWitt initiated the Queens of Boogie Woogie shows for friendship, inspiration and outreach among all the Queens of Boogie Woogie. Shows have spread to San Diego, Arizona, Washington and Switzerland, bringing together a group of women committed to continuing the tradition of high-energy piano started by Hadda Brooks, Camille Howard and Hazel Scott.
Reserved seat tickets are now on sale for $25, 20 and $15.
Get tickets online at www.soperreesetheatre.com, at the Theatre Box Office, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport on Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or by phone at (707) 263-0577. Tickets also available at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St. in Lakeport, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
