A Swinging Coaches' Corner with Roberta Donnay

Roberta Donnay looks like she just walked out of the Great Gatsby. She doesn't just look the part, she lives it.  Roberta is a Jazz Age preservationist, guardian of Depression-era sounds, and extender of traditions. On her album Bathtub Gin, this singer-composer contributes originals in the spirit of the '20s and '30.  On this album, which she co-produced and co-arranged with Sam Bevan, Roberta imbues classic songs with a contemporary verve while also managing to capture the spirit of her musical predecessors and an emerging America. Honoring the tradition of such seminal singers as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker.  Especially well-known in the Bay Area, where she lives, Roberta was originally produced by the late Orrin Keepnews.  She has toured the country with her guitar, and has performed live and in recordings with the late Dan Hicks.  Roberta has also appeared with Ernestine Anderson, Booker T, Junior Brown, Tommy Castro, Peter Coyote, David Grisman, Bob Dorough, Woody Harrelson, Johnny Lange, Huey Lewis, Eddie Money, Maria Muldaur, Joe Sample, Lenny Williams, Mitch Woods,and Neil Young. Roberta has won awards including being listed in DownBeat Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2015.  Learn more about Roberta at www.robertadonnay.com.  Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/robertadonnay Her album, Bathtub Gin, is available here:  http://www.amazon.com/Bathtub-Roberta-Donnay-Prohibition-Band/dp/B00QKMCT2O