Special Performance

2007 RI Female Vocalist of The Year Maria Ventura Featured Artist

CUMBERLAND, R.I. -- The Dixie Diehards Jazz Band will be dishing out a Mardi Gras menu of traditional New Orleans Jazz 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 at Blackstone River Theater. The family-friendly showcase also includes includes Providence Phoenix 2007 Poll Best Female Vocalist Maria Ventura as featured singer.

The Diehards, whose lineup includes a medical doctor, a retired college professor and an investigative reporter, among others, shares at least one thing in common: a passion for the "hot jazz" and blues of the early 20th Century. The era, typified by such greats as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton, firmly established jazz as "America's music" and set the direction for much of subsequent pop culture.

Taunton resident Ventura, at 16 already an established singer-songwriter-guitarist, is a familiar performer at Providence's AS220 and the Century Lounge whose debut album "Tear Bird Train" -- recorded when she was only 14 -- reveals a distinctive soprano and a songwriter possessed of beyond-year-years wisdom. Her young resume includes opening for David Johansen (“Hot Hot Hot”) in New York City as well as for the Blue Man Group comedy trio.

With The Dixie Diehards, the versatile teen displays another side of her musical personality, rendering such classics as "Pennies From Heaven" and "St. Louis Blues" with  texture and poise befitting an Ella Fitzgerald or a Thelma Middleton.

Introducing -   Maria Ventura

Maria Ventura, who won the Best Female Vocalist award in the 2007 Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll, turned 16 this past July. But as a highly talented singer, guitarist and songwriter, she has wasted little time piling up accomplishments.

Singing publicly since the age of 9, she has performed extensively at such Providence area venues as AS220, the Century Lounge, White Electric and The Green Room as well as at dozens of local clubs and songwriter showcases. At the tender age of 11, she began appearing  in New York City at venues like FEZ and Arlene’s Grocery as well as at summer festivals on the Lower East Side where she once opened for David Johansen of the New York Dolls.

She has also performed with a variety of rock and country outfits -- some of her own devising-- as well as pairing with multi-instrumentalist Joel Thibodeaux who has gone on to recording with Sub Pop records. Her credits also include appearing as the opening act for noted recording artist Sarah Borges, the Blue Man Group performance art trio and, with violinist Shayna Gonsalves, Michael Hurley.

With the Dixie Diehards Jazz Band, the versatile 16-year-old displays another side to her musical personality, belting out classics like “St. Louis Blues” with the verve of a young Thelma Middleton.

Maria also sings in both the chorus and the select choir at Coyle Cassidy High School in Taunton, Massachusetts where she and her family reside.

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