As jazz songbird Carmen McRae once said, “Blues is to jazz what yeast is to bread. Without it, it’s flat.” Together with ragtime, blues helped lay the groundwork for the birth of jazz. The genre has an emotional depth that’s as gritty as it is honest, with blues legends like Ma Rainey and John Lee Hooker channeling resilience through their bluesy tunes. This season, ‘We call it Jazz: Tribute to The Blues’ in Brisbane brings a dazzling celebration of the blues genre in all its forms to a historic venue in the city.
On selected dates over the coming months, this blues show will be held inside Grand on Ann, a heritage-listed Brisbane landmark. Admire the grandeur of the venue’s Classical Revival architecture and slip into an evening of timeless blues songs performed live this season. Tickets are on sale now but spaces are limited, so don’t hesitate and get yours today.
What to expect at ‘We call it Jazz: Tribute to The Blues’
This ain’t your usual live music show. It’s a heartfelt journey through the blues’ rich legacy. A live blues band featuring a talented vocalist will be taking to the stage inside the elegant hall of Grand on Ann for a powerful performance that explores the genre’s deep roots and new interpretations. From “The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King to “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker, classic blues hits rub shoulders with modern takes of the genre during the unforgettable 60-minute show.
Blues, its story and the show
The blues emerged in the late 1860s, born from a merging of hardship and hope experienced by African Americans in the wake of the Civil War. Blues legends like Ma Rainey and Lead Belly would sing about the raw realities of life and love as well as the countless adversities they faced growing up in the Deep South at the time.
Early blues was defined by the stirring notes of the guitar paired with the harmonica — some of the only instruments that were accessible to the musicians at the time. Since then, the blues has invited instruments like the piano, drums and saxophone to join the party. At this sensational blues tribute, songs like “Mannish Boy” and “Crossroads” will be performed by a local blues band equipped with the signature instruments of the blues as well as a professional singer.
We call it Jazz: A Tribute to The Blues is a moving ode to the iconic genre that’s coming to jive in Brisbane’s Grand on Ann soon. There are usually two 60-minute shows on the night, with the first starting at 6:30pm and the later one at 8:30pm. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in each zone and doors open 30 minutes prior to the show start time.