BIOGRAPHY

Joyce Thomas is a Chicago jazz chanteuse.  Her three one woman shows - Stompin’ at The Savoy:  The Golden Era of Great Jazz; Sophisticated Ladies: A Tribute to Jazz Divas and Strange Fruit:  We Remember Billie Holiday - have been performed at venues throughout Chicago.  

 

Joyce has graced the stages of Le Piano, Davenport’s Cabaret, Black Ensemble Theater,  Drew’s on Halsted, Petterino’s Monday Night Live, private parties, and open mics throughout Chicago. When not working on her own projects, she enjoys collaborating with other local singers to produce variety shows.

 

Joyce developed an interest in jazz after seeing the Motown production Lady Sings the Blues in the early 1970’s.  Her major influences are Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald.

 

“Billie Holiday wore her heart on her sleeve. You felt her pain in her music. Nina Simone was just so original; she could sing Broadway, rock, pop, or gospel songs and turn them into jazz. Ella was not only a versatile singer, but her scatting and her attention to phrasing made her legendary. You only have to listen to her first live performance of Mack the Knife to see that even her mistakes had style.”

 

Joyce is your ticket to a great evening of jazz entertainment..