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| Othella Dallas at Dizzy's Famed Harlem Dancer and Singer Othella Dallas Appearing At Dizzy's Monday, March 10, 2008 with John di Martino - piano, Aaron Heick - reeds, Richie Goods - bass, Tim Horner drums, plus special guest; Sonny Barbato - accordion. Born 1925 in Memphis, Othella Dallas can look back to a long and illustrious career. She was discovered by the iconoclast dance teacher Katherine Dunham and was awarded a scholarship to study with her in New York. After the war Othella became a permanent member of the Katherine Dunham dance company and a teacher at the Dunham School. She began her successful American singing career in New York, 1954 -- appearing alongside such greats as Sammy Davis Jr. at the Apollo, Duke Ellington, Sony Stitt and King Curtis, to name just a few. Her career brought Othella to Switzerland where she opened her own highly successful jazz ballet academy in Basel and continued to sing at clubs and concert halls across the continent. During the late 1980's she enjoyed major success with her appearances with one-time Woody Herman saxophonist Sal Nistico and his quartet. She amazed the crowd with her appearances with Slide Hampton and John Gordon's Trombones Unlimited. Othella's specialty is a mixture of dance and jazz that builds up to a sparkling climax. She has been invited to give master classes throughout Europe and North America, including at the prestigious “International Vienna Dance Week". Othella's new CD “I Live The Life I Love" is her best to date. This is the fire of Othella Dallas, a Lil' Gal from Memphis who, as this disk testifies, still "Lives The Life I Love". The sound of this album started with John DiMartino's marvelous ability to hone in on Othella's personality and charisma. He connected to her history and produced arrangements that give her a musical home and make her shine. “Bird In The Sky" and “On My Way Back Home" are new contributions from her son, Peter Wydler. The production team included two of the best audio engineers in the business: Jon Rosenberg in New York, and Fred Herrmann in Switzerland. "I Live The Life I Love" is manufactured with Suonix/Switzerland and will be distributed worldwide. It is a joy to listen to this album. Othella Dallas - she is 82 - and on the top of her career. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |