Join us at Jackson’s Steakhouse on Thursday, October 14, for our latest installment of “Jazz at Jackson’s.”
Back by popular demand, the featured performers for the evening are vocalist Ellen Vinson accompanied by noted pianist Bobby van Deusen. Together they will present a program featuring songs from the American Songbook by George and Ira Gershwin. The Gershwin brothers were arguably the most prolific song writing team in American music. George Gershwin wrote his first song when he was 18. During the next 20 years until his death in 1937, he wrote more than 500 additional songs. He also wrote an opera, and music for plays and movies as well as music for the piano and orchestra. In the 100 years that the Gershwins’ songs have been performed they have been sung and performed in every possible way; including jazz, opera, blues and country. Gershwin’s music has probably been performed more often and by more musicians than any other American composer. George and Ira’s music tells a story and their music is timeless and it never goes out of style.
Ellen Vinson has loved singing jazz as long as she can remember. Although she graduated with a major in elementary education, she began college as a music major, singing jingles for radio and television in Tallahassee. Additionally, Ellen taught elementary school for over 30 years. She looks forward to sharing her interpretation of jazz classics, songs that tell a story, and never go out of style. For the past seven years she has enjoyed participating in our annual “Jazz at Jackson’s” as well as events benefitting numerous nonprofit organizations. She looks forward to sharing her interpretation of Gershwin’s jazz classics and has chosen some of her favorites for this special evening.
Bobby van Deusen, a Philadelphia native, has been playing piano professionally for over 40 years. His credits include Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, The Dukes of Dixieland, The Sammy Davis, Jr., Eartha Kitt, Della Reese, the Barbary Coast Dixieland Band, and the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. He is currently a touring artist with Allied Concert Tours. Recently he was awarded the “World’s Best Old Time Piano Competition” in Oxford, Mississippi. In addition to this special performance at Jackson’s, van Deusen performs six nights a week at the Sandestin Hilton. Bobby will include some music written specifically for the piano for this event.
There will be two seatings for this event: 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. In addition to our full dinner menu, which will be available for the evening, Chef Miller has prepared a special-feature entrée: Harissa-rubbed 14 ounce rib-eye, with romesco verde and smoked garlic confit.
This is a limited-seating event. To reserve your table, please call Jackson’s Steakhouse, 850-469-9898.