Adekola Adedapo grew up in the music scene in Chicago, Illinois, where her grandfather was part-owner of Club 411. Now based in Milwaukee, Adedapo has been performing for more than 40 years. She has entertained audiences by incorporating African chants with jazz standards and scats. In addition to singing, Adekola is a professional storyteller. She spent years teaching in the Milwaukee Public School system, worked with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Arts in the Community Education program, and acted as the Multicultural Program Coordinator for Alverno College. (Source: Cassandra McShepard, WTMJ-TV Milwaukee and Milwaukee Community Journal)
Your Guide to the Local Jazz Scene
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Adekola Adedapo, Donna Woodall, Michelle DuVall
June 14, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Free
Join the Madison Jazz Festival and Arts + Literature Laboratory for a A Celebration of Vocal Jazz featuring Adekola Adedapo, Donna Woodall, and Michelle DuVal on Thursday, June 13 at 7:30pm. Free admission.
With her unique blend of jazz, blues, soul, and pop, Donna Woodall presents lush, intimate vocals with every performance and has established herself as a talented singer, bandleader, and songwriter in the Milwaukee music scene.
“I am a dread-locked singer/songwriter/bandleader/8th grade English teacher from Milwaukee, WI who feels most at home in a cool T-shirt and comfy jeans. If Carole King and Cassandra Wilson had a baby, they’d produce me.” – Donna Woodall
She skillfully blends the musical styles of artists such as Cassandra Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, and Esperanza Spalding with elements of traditional jazz, blues, and what she affectionately calls “soulful folk.” The result? A fresh, new feel on familiar pop songs. Audiences are delighted by her eclectic song selections, cool originals, creative renditions of classic hits, and her bold moves into different music genres.
Donna’s talents also come alive on her self-produced album, “… Read More
Michelle DuVall has been called “a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and Bernadette Peters” by Madison Newspapers’ Rhythm, and “a vocalist who can take a standard and make it shine” by Isthmus. DuVall and instrumentalist Doug Brown have gained a reputation a reputation in the Midwest for playing some of the most swinging and refined jazz around.
“My approach has always been keeping it pretty straight-ahead, keeping it true to form. I don’t do a lot of scatting. I don’t play with the melodies very much. But it still swings,” DuVall explained to Isthmus.
Brown and DuVall’s refreshing renditions of classic swing songs can be heard on their highly praised first CD, “Standards”. Their second CD, “Chillin’ At The White Horse” features the duo performing Brown’s original jazz tunes with their “rock solid quintet”.
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