Anyone who has spent even the least amount of time exploring great jazz and soul singers would certainly have heard Nina Simone. For someone wanting to make a career in that field, Simone would absolutely have been an influence. As she was for Ledisi. That influence is explored in the new show Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue which just opened at the Lovelace Studio Theatre at the Wallis in Beverly Hills. The show will run there through December 29th.
For this show, Ledisi plays herself, her mother and Simone. She explores the connection she has with these women and with the material Simone wrote and recorded. But don’t expect simple covers of this music. Ledisi utilizes both a big band and strings for many of the songs performed in the show.
Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue has a lot of high-energy members of the creative team. Writing the show along with Leidi is Ron Young. Producing are Suzi Dietz and Billy Porter (Pose). Kim Burse, who has worked with Tina Turner and Beyonce, is the creative music supervisor and Brandon Waddles is the music director.
If you saw Witness Uganda at the Wallis, you know how powerful a performer Ledisi is. Apparently many people did see that show or already knew as many performances of Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue are already sold out or close to being so.
This appears to be a perfect combination of artist and material. I’d make this a top priority before the run ends later this month.
For tickets go here.