(Newswire.net — June 5, 2013) New York, NY
Jazz and blues singer, Ms. Cynthia Holiday, enjoyed the distict pleasure of representing “the blues” at the launch party for the celebration of the new dinner and stemware collection from Lenox China, “Midnight Blue”. The event celebrates the art and excitement of designer Keren Craig of Marchesa, and her team, and their unique vision for the Lenox company. The design was inspired by a runway dress originally, that was displayed at the event. Designers, models, company management and the industry gathered to admire the new pattern.
Keren Craig, co-founder of Marchesa, commented that “Fashion is so seasonal. Once you’ve seen the dress, it’s gone. But what is so lovely about things we do with Lenox, is that things come back, season after season. We put one of our creations on it, so it can live on season after season. We love our blues. Everything is always so sheik and black, but obviously, only so much black will do. Blue is a color that suits so many different people”.
When interviewed and asked “Why blue?” president of Lenox China, Mr. Lester Gribetz replied, “There are all sorts of shades of blue and by the time we got the Marchesa ladies to get satisfied, with these particular shades, it took about 30 different varieties to make them. Strangely enough, blue is a very tough color to make. The ingredients of blues are a little more expensive and elaborate and hard to fire, because the shades change in the firing. Blue is as hard to do as red, but…. they’ve licked it and it’s gorgeous”.
Ms. Holiday chose her best blues for the event, and even changed some lyrics of a familiar blues to fit the theme. “Down Home Blues” was the hook to introduce the new “Midnight Blue” pattern. Holiday states, “I changed the words to the familiar blues song and I sang: “Midnight Blues, Midnight Blues, all I want to sing about is Midnight Blues all night long” the crowd loved it and sang along with me”.
When asked how she might describe her musical style, Ms. Holiday replied, “I am a jazz & blues singer. However, I prefer to call myself a “song stylist” because my repertoire includes all genres, but sung in the style of jazz music. I am also the band leader of the Cynthia Holiday Quartet with Radam Schwartz, (piano/B3 Organ), as my music director for the past 15 years. I also served as emcee/host for corporate events like Anheuser Busch’s “Jammin’ For Education” Scholarship Program as well as, of course, Lenox China Corporations’s “New York Tabletop Show”, introducing the new Marchesa “Midnight Blue” dinnerware pattern”.
Cynthia Holiday’s musical roots are deep. Her father, trumpeter Calvin Hughes, played with Frank Foster, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Clark Terry, toured with “Big Maybelle” and was a big band leader. Her CD entitled “All The Way” features The Cedar Walton Trio and a host of fine players. Steeped in tradition, Cynthia Holiday carries the jazz flame. Her website features her CD, “All The Way” and she also contributed lyrics to two compositions on the CD. The title of the songs are “I Like What I See” and “You Got A Job To Do”, with music composed by Radam Schwartz.
Sheila Anderson, late night host on WBGO Jazz 88FM, the worldwide jazz radio station says of Cynthia, “Cynthia is well studied, as she seeks to continue the tradition of jazz women who sing the blues, a style that, in my observation, has become a lost art among vocalists. I hear the humor of Helen Humes, the soul of Ernestine Anderson, the warm timbre of Mary Stallings and story telling of Marlena Shaw. But, make no mistake, what we hear is pure Cynthia Holiday.”
“I met Cynthia several years ago when I used to frequent various jam sessions in Harlem clubs. I was struck by her ability to quickly command the stage. “Holiday has a fantastic stage presence and it’s time for her music to be heard”. Kevin Mahogany, Grammy Award Winner/juna Award Winner, Jazz Singer/Educator
You can catch Cynthia Holiday at Showmans Jazz Club on June 22, 2013 with The Cynthia Holiday Quartet. 375 W.125th St. Harlem, NY.
Sets: 9:30pm, 11:30pm and 1:30am. No Cover, No Reservations. First Come, First Seated.
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For more information on Cynthia Holiday, please visit: www.cynthiaholidaymusic.com
To contact Ms. Holiday: Sandra Trim-DaCosta smtdc2002@yahoo.com
(917) 833-2693
Holiday Music & Entertainment, LLC, 800 Palisade Avenue, Suite 1905, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
For more information on Lenox China, please visit: www.lenox.com