Rejoice the Voice of Melba Joyce

Within the world of music, there is no more uniquely American tradition then that of jazz.  It is a genre that is hallmarked by its careful fusion of time honored traditions, progressive inclinations and a musical style that has been consistently influential and meaningful for over a century.  There is an unmatched reverence and mutual admiration within the Jazz community, and one of its most celebrated voices will be performing in Fargo this weekend.

For over three decades, Melba Joyce has been lauded for her tremendous singing talent as well as for her consistently hopeful message: “Jazz is an instrument of peace… it brings us all together.”  With a unique voice that at once commands respect but also imparts a reassuring calm, the formative years of Melba Joyce’s career were spent working with and around Jazz royalty such as Dizzy Gilespie, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong.  Over the span of her storied career, she has contributed vocals for Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Cat Stevens.  She has also performed alongside Sarah Vaughn and Tony Bennett as well as in the Broadway musical, “Black and Blue.”

Despite her diverse resume, Melba’s passion remains for jazz: “It is America’s classical music” she said in a recent interview.  For the past five years, she has performed as the guest vocalist for the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, a group whose mission has been to perpetuate classical Jazz music for over 70 years. 

While paying careful homage to Jazz’s history, Melba Joyce has also worked tirelessly to ensure its future.  She has served as a panelist for the Congressional Black Caucus of Women in Jazz Forum, has produced the first ever Women In Jazz festival for the Schomburg Center for Black Culture in Harlem and has produced a musical education series for the mentally and physically challenged called Jazz For Special People.  She also spent six weeks performing and promoting the music arts in Africa as a part of The Kennedy Center/USIA Jazz Ambassador program.  In addition to her touring schedule, she currently works as an instructor and lecturer on The Music of Global Cultures for the State University of New York on Long Island and with the Harlem School of Arts.

Melba Joyce will be performing as the special guest vocalist for the Jazz Arts Group of Fargo-Moorhead at the Fargo Theater on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m.  Advance tickets are available and can be reserved by calling 218-359-4JAZZ (4529) or by visiting http://www.jazzartsfm.com; adult tickets are $20 and student tickets are $10.