Nina Kristofferson’s Billie Holiday Story

Billie Holiday, the Queen of Jazz didn’t just leap onto the jazz scene she was born out of it when she embarrassingly tried to dance her way into a gig and luckily was given a chance to sing.  With vocals bellowing out, soulful, heartfelt tunes that haunt, captivate, spellbind you beyond your own mind’s recognition whilst being rhythmically brilliant and enjoyable, Lady Day was born.  Giving a voice to many black people of yesterday and today, with her embracing of the Civil Rights movement and Strange Fruit.  Nothing can take away Billie’s continued relevance, her story telling, musicianship, delivery and drama, a true genius.  Demanding that the lights be turned down in the club and a spotlight be placed on her for affect – you’re hooked from the opening haunting chord sequences played in the intro…   After all it’s not a fruit that can be swallowed but the horrific lynching of so many black individuals – that papers still sadly report today!  What was it that we all heard when she sang, ‘You’re My Thrill’ or ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do’?  The warmth in her voice, a cry for love from a tortured soul, or was it simply – the joy you feel when you hear the incredible vocals of Billie Holiday that allowed you to escape and enter into another World.  Demanding to be part of the change that is to come.  Never embracing the hardship of the black condition that stopped black artists and so many black individuals from becoming all that they were created to be.  The Queen of Jazz was loved and had a song for every season.  Good Morning Heartache, Stormy Blues, God Bless The Child, A Fine Romance, Billie’s Blues and more all delivered with her unique sense of timing and unforgettable vocals.

That said, my own need of self-expression, life’s free form jazz set me on a road to write a musical of joy and pain born out of the love of jazz.  How could Billie’s Story not be captured along with the footsteps of so many marching across the World today uniting in one common voice shouting for change.  Pioneers of the future will always rise from the ashes and now her story has become mine in my Multi-Award Winning, West End self-penned one woman show, ‘Nina Kristofferson’s Billie Holiday Story’.  Please join our journey and sign-up to our mailing list.  Website: http://www.nkproductions.co.uk/shop/