AN EVENING WITH SUE KINGHAM
I am reflecting on my recent gig at The Ellington Jazz Club. I keep smiling when I think about it now! I have to say it was a full on 5 months of preparation and managing my nerves and self doubt and that old imposter syndrome rearing its ugly head.
But truthfully, I also enjoyed the preparation. It was interesting to find that I wanted to change my keys from years ago and actually take them up! There were lots of skills that started popping back into my head, like needing to plan the introductions and endings of tunes, choosing good tempos and feels, and making sure that the set list was interesting and entertaining. I was pretty amazed to wake up on the actual day and feel okay, and was able to just focus on making music and connecting with my beautiful audience. I learnt heaps and I am looking forward to doing it again!
“Come and enjoy an evening with Sue Kingham as she takes you on a journey through the music, songs, and singers that have inspired her career. The event will feature a variety of musical styles from artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Flack, Kerrie Biddell, Al Jarreau, Carmen McRae, Kurt Elling, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Cassandra Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn, and more!”
Sue is a highly experienced vocalist who has performed in a range of jazz groups, vocal groups, and as a backing vocalist and session singer over the years. Her career highlights include being the lead vocalist and co-leader of Hothouse, a 14-piece jazz-funk-fusion band.
Hothouse featured in many Festival of Perth and Perth Theatre Trust concerts and even supported James Brown at the Perth Entertainment Centre. Sue was also lead vocalist and co-leader of Kabisa, a 7-piece Jazz Fusion band, which supported the Dizzy Gillespie Concert at Perth Concert Hall.
Sue’s accomplishments also include being the first female and the first vocalist in the Jazz course at WAAPA, where she quickly became the first vocalist for WAYJO and toured with the Big Band to the UK, performing at the Aberdeen International Youth Arts Festival and Edinburgh Commonwealth Arts Festival. She was lead vocalist for the professional Jazz West Big Band which performed live for ABC for Jarrah Jazz, at Manly Jazz festival, and was featured vocalist on Jazz West’s CD “Take The Light”.
Aside from her performance experience, Sue was also a vocal tutor at WAAPA in the Jazz and Contemporary music courses for over 23 years. She has been awarded for songwriting by the Australian Association of Songwriters and WARMIA, and is now a top-level member of the Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA), and runs her own private teaching practice called Sue Kingham Vocal Studio, where she provides singing lessons, Performance Workshops, and educates IVA student teachers.
Featuring Jackson Vanballegooyen on the piano, Lachie Glover on saxophone & trumpet, Alistair Peel on bass, and Bronton Ainsworth on drums. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the pure joy and passion Sue has for singing as she shares her journey with you! Join us for An Evening with Sue Kingham: The Soundtrack to My Life.
