Antoinette Montague Spring Performance Schedule, Mayo Center for the Arts, Sunday, March 27, 2011

    FAIRFIELD, CT, March 17, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- To understand the electrifying impact Antoinette has on audiences, just read what Larry Luttenger, of the Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation has to say:

"Packed house, standing ovation, multiple encores -- after a night like that it's the law -- your guest has to return for more. We had no alternative but to invite our 2010 cabaret artist -- the pride of Newark NJ, the incomparable, bluesy, swinging Antoinette Montague -- back once again to present an all new show for us this February."

Born and raised in Newark, Antoinette Montague was drawn to the music by her mother who was always singing and sounded like Ella Fitzgerald. Montague's interest was further jumpstarted by her dad. "On Saturdays my dad would drop me off at the Newark Public Library on his way to work. There I would listen to Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington." Years later Montague met up with the renowned Etta Jones, who became her mentor. "She encouraged me when others were being uncool. She would say, 'I hear it Annie. It is coming along, and it's going to be wonderful. Not everybody wants you to sing like they did me. Keep doing it and don't quit, or I will come back and haunt you.'"

Montague released her first CD, Pretty Blues, in 2006 featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller, saxophonist Bill Easley, drummer Kenny Washington, and bassist Peter Washington--the same group of influential jazz players featured on the new release Behind The Smile. Montague has appeared on the cover of Jazz Improv NY Magazine and on two book covers of Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret and Music. She has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Jazzmobile's Summer Breeze Concert Series, Zebra Room in Harlem's famous Lenox Lounge, the Blue Note, Jazz Standard and more.

Antoinette's album, Behind The Smile features a diverse repertoire of standards and originals including "What's Going On", "The Song Is You", "Get Ready", "Somewhere In The Night" as well the vocalist/composer's original title song "Behind The Smile". At the upcoming Jazz Vespers performance listeners get to hear Montague tap into her extensive repertoire and distinctive renditions of "What The World Needs Now", "Creole Love Call", "Rough and Ready Man", "Let the Good Times Roll", "God Bless the Child", "On The Street Where You Live", "Lady Be Good", "I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart", Duke Ellington's "I Didn't Know About You", "East Of the Sun", "I'll Be Seeing You", "Swing It Brother Swing", "Smack Dab In The Middle", Mose Allison's, "If You've Got Questions Ask Me Nice", Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon In the Sky" and others.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

Saturday, April 9, 2011 8:00 pm
Antoinette Montague Group

The 2011 International Women in Jazz Festival
with Tammy Hall (piano) & Bill Easley (sax, flute, clarinet)

St. Peter's Church
54th Street at Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Tickets, $20: 212-560-7553
Festival runs from 2:00pm to 9:00 pm
www.internationalwomeninjazz.com

Sunday, April 10, 2011 8:00 pm
Antoinette Montague Group

Second Sunday Jazz Series
A Tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor
Presbyterian Jazz Society

The First Presbyterian Church
199 North Columbus Avenue
(corner of East Lincoln Ave.)
Mount Vernon, NY 10553-1196
Tickets: 914-667-0823
PJS Members $10
Non-members $18
Students $15
www.pjsjazz.org

Friday, April 29, 2011 8:00 pm
Antoinette Montague Group

Queens Jazz Orchestra
under the direction of Jimmy Heath
Flushing Town Hall
137-35 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11354
Tickets: 718-463-7700 ext. 222
www.flushingtownhall.org/events

Thursday, May 5, 2011 8:00 pm
Antoinette Montague Group

Fairfield Theater - Stage One
70 Sandford Street
Fairfield, CT 06824
Tickets: 203-259-1036
www.fairfieldtheatre.org

Wednesday, July 20, 2011
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

5:00 pm - Meet the Artist Talk
by Antoinette Montague
William Paterson University Jazz Week
Shea Center for the Performing Arts
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Tickets: 973-720-2000
www.wpunj.edu

For more information on Antoinette Montague's performances and bookings, call 203-820-8819 or visit www.antoinettemontague.com.

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