Siren Songs

But for being born white, San Francisco chanteuse Lavay Smith might be the latter-day Billie Holiday. Smith has Lady Day’s throaty purr, though it might be more appropriate to say that Smith has Holiday’s purr down. Smith, see, is a natural-born self-promoter whose business is channeling swing/bebop legends such as Holiday, Bessie Smith, and Big Maybelle. That said, there’s a lot to hype. Smith is a fine singer with a fine ear for songs, and she’s extremely easy on the retinas.

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• Bessie Smith
• Billie Holiday
• Big Maybelle
• Dance
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

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Additionally, Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are a tonic to the eardrums, raising a joyful racket in the key of haute swing. The “little big band” provides music for hoofing at Wrigley Mansion in conjunction with the manse’s Summer Swing Dance Series.