Ginger Bennett 'Songs from My Soul'

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Last Show: Monday 4 th April 2022

PizzaExpress Live (Holborn)

This funny, poignant two-hander follows Ginger and her mother’s journey as first and second-generation immigrants from the West Indies. The show features songs by Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Gregory Porter as well as inspirational new material from this award-winning team. “At its core Songs from my Soul is a story of love, the different ways we show it, experience it, long for it and feel the absence of it. It’s a magnificent debut for Ginger and a sign of great things to come. She lays her soul bare, we love her for it and wish we were as brave”. Come ready to laugh, cry and sing along with this amazingly talented group of players.

Part memoir, part personal exploration through spoken word and music, we move between mother and daughter on their own journeys. Staged as a live performance the piece will reach out to audiences and music lovers from all backgrounds.

The performance features preloved songs and original music and will examine an underexposed history. This material, delivered with emotion, and wit, combined with some finely crafted music,  aims not only to entertain but also to throw out some powerful questions on life for women in the UK from the 60’s to the present day. 

website:  www.songsfrommysoul.com

Ginger Bennett : Vocals (Bernadette) 

Originally from Lewisham South-East London Ginger has been living and performing as a singer on the Kent Coast since 2003. Following a successful sporting career, she returned to her first passion music and is most often seen performing with her six-piece funk and soul outfit Project For guest appearances with the fabulous 9 piece KD Jazz Orchestra. Ginger has performed at the Margate Jazz and Soul Festivals and is a regular performer at the Canterbury Festival.  

Ginger is known for an intimate style of performance that always involves spirited audience participation and lots of laughs.  

" ...It was the perfect thing... You have such a special voice and I love you banter between songs.."  Canterbury Festival 
website:  www.GingerZedhead.co.uk 

Frances Knight:Keys 

Jazz musician/composer/writer, FK began her apprenticeship by playing gigs around London and going on to study at the Guildhall School of Music.  FK’s projects have been eclectic and diverse, ranging  from jazz and blues through to improvised music and Argentinian Tango.  She has worked extensively in theatre, both on the small stage and at the National Theatre.

She has her own record label, Mandeville Records,  with tracks played on the BBC, Jazz FM and Europe-wide. Mandeville releases have featured clarinet legend Tony Coe and Stevie Winwood sideman Paul Booth. She has also recorded albums with the late Hugh Hopper of Soft Machine.

Maxine Edwards: Aretha 

Originally from South-East London and an ex International Rugby player and England Captain. Maxine has been a regular player with the Bromley Little Theatre since 2014 with notable appearances in King Charles III and Clybourne Park.  Awards include Kent Drama Association Winner (Best Debut)

" Ghost of Christmas Past, wonderfully realised by Maxine Edwards with an authoritative and majestic presence" 

Martin Elliot:Bass Guitar


Since first playing professionally in London at the age of 19 (1976:  "the Lady or the Tiger" at the Fortune theatre), Martin Elliott has continued to work at the highest levels of the musical world.

Recordings, tours, television (e.g. Wogan, New Faces, Bottom, London’s Burning) and radio work have taken him around the world, playing for artists such as: Petula Clark, Gary Numan, Shirley Bassey, Michael Ball, Matt Monro, Bucks Fizz, the Nolans, the Jesus and Mary Chain.

He has played many West End shows, such as Les Miserables, Grease, Cats, Chess, etc.

He has been a regular member of the Michael Nyman Band (since 1983), playing in major international concert halls, and has performed in Italy with the singers Alice and Franco Battiato.

Martin has recorded a “concerto" for bass guitar by the Spanish composer Jose Maria Rivas and a piece for bass guitar and soprano voice written by Paul Barker and featuring Sarah Leonard, from an opera called "Dirty Tricks", that was accompanied by solo bass guitar.

Band Line Up

Ginger Bennett (vocals)

Frances Knight (keys)

Martin Elliott (bass guitar) 

Maxine Edwards (Aretha)

Michael Amerstorfer (Director)