2020 celebrated the centenary of the birth of jazz icon, Peggy Lee.  A songwriter of note, an entertainer for 60 years and one of the great female jazz innovators.  Some of her songs have always been in my repertoire, but I thought it was time to explore the extensive back catalogue of this troubled and very talented woman.

 

It has certainly been a fascinating, and at times, daunting, voyage of discovery exploring her rise from humble beginnings in North Dakota, to her first break as a big band singer with Benny Goodman through to her successful solo career as a singer/song writer and Hollywood actress.  I say daunting because when a singer has produced over 50 albums, that's quite a lot of songs to choose from.  The songs I have decided to feature in my show are first and foremost songs that I enjoy singing but that also chart Peggy Lee's fascinating rise to fame and help explain how she maintained her prominence on the music scene for so many years.

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Holly Foster Wells, Peggy Lee's granddaughter in charge of Miss Lee's legacy PeggyLee.com , said

"I listened to her version of "The Folks Who Live On The Hill" and it's really lovely.  Not at all an imitation but her quiet delivery captures the essence of Peggy Lee".

"Thanks for always shining the spotlight on my grandmother's music and legacy!"

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The Allure of Miss Lee gigs:  

       24th April 2019 - Headgate Theatre, Colchester

       15th May 2019 - Mill Hill Jazz Club

        2nd July 2019 - Thorpe Bay Jazz Club

        27th July 2019 - National Jazz Archive, Loughton (SOLD OUT)

        25th January 2020 - Crazy Coqs - Live at Zedel (SOLD OUT) 

        26th February 2020 - The Belvedere Jazz Club, Rawreth

                                                                                       (SOLD OUT) 

        31st October 2020 - Crazy Coqs - Live at Zedel   (SOLD OUT)

        30th May 2021 - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club  (SOLD OUT)

        22nd July 2021 - The Pheasantry, Chelsea

        16th September 2021 - The Chantry Centre, Billericay 

         6th October 2021 - The Belvedere Jazz Club, Rawreth

         23rd January 2022 - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (SOLD OUT)

         2nd September 2022 - The Woodbine Pub, Waltham Abbey

         22nd January 2023 - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (SOLD OUT)

         17th March 2023 - All Saints Church, Highams Park

         1st December 2023 - 2 Sisters Arts Centre, Felixstowe

         4th February 2024 - Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton-on-                                                                                                           Thames

         1st March 2024 - Steyning Jazz Club, Steyning

         17th May 2024 - 2 Sisters Art Centre, Felixstowe

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          for full venue details please refer to gigs page

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Reviews for The Allure of Miss Lee:

Catherine Lima's show The Allure of Miss Lee is a very fine piece of work .. London Jazz News (see full review)

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Highly recommended. Excellent show, well researched and presented.  Steve Wright - Headgate Theatre

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Great gig, great musicians and a lovely voice. Another National Jazz Archive goodie – Mike Rose - National Jazz Archive

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We enjoyed your performance very much . . . so like the original arrangements we are familiar with. I closed my eyes during some of the passages, and thought, Yes, that is SO Peggy Lee, sung with great expression and tenderness - Mike Ewington, musician

 

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