EFG London Jazz Festival 2019

Vanessa Rubin featuring Danny Grissett

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Saturday 23 rd November 2019

The Pheasantry (Chelsea)

Vanessa Rubin is revered as one of the great jazz vocalists in the world today. She possesses a voice hailed for crystalline clarity, hearth-like warmth and sass. She brings a wealth of diverse influences to her singing style from both the Trinidadian/Caribbean roots of her mother and traditional jazz by way of her Louisiana-born father. For these rare and intimate UK shows, she is joined by regular pianist, Danny Grissett. 

As a Cleveland native she was strongly influenced by Nancy Wilson. Other sources of inspiration include late great trumpeter Blue Mitchell, and the legendary vocal trio Lambert Hendricks and Ross, as well as her love of the Motown Sound.

Once she made the inevitable move to New York where she was discovered and mentored by many great veterans like Barry Harris and Pharaoh Sanders.  

As an actress Rubin received a 2011 nomination for a Kevin Klein Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. "Yesterdays"; An Evening with Billie Holliday - a one-woman show about the life and music of the legendary jazz vocalist written by Renee Upchurch, directed by Mr Woodie King Jr. at the National Black Theatre in Harlem.

One of her current projects is highlighting and interpreting well-known, obscure and new lyrical works of composer/arranger/pianist Tadd Dameron. Rubin continues to be a favorite at major jazz venues and festivals in the US and worldwide.

Pianist Danny Grissett established himself on the LA Jazz scene in the 90's. Under guidance of drummer Billy Higgins, he began performing with distinguished artists such as George Coleman, Jackie McLean, and Ralph Moore.

In 2002 he joined drummer Roy McCurdy in the trio of John Heard. Danny moved to New York, and within the first few months he became a sideman of choice for artists such as Vincent Herring and Vanessa Rubin. He now performs all over the world with such notables as Benny Golson, The Mingus Big Band, Marcus Strickland, Russell Malone, Steve Nelson, Jeremy Pelt, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, and is a member of the Tom Harrell quintet.

Band Lineup

Vanessa Rubin (vocals)

Danny Grissett (piano)

Joris Teepe (bass)

Stephen Keogh (drums)