Quick Center Favorite John Pizzarelli Teams Up with Catherine Russell for December 16 Tribute Performance at Fairfield University | Press Releases

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (December 3, 2018) – On Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 3 p.m., The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University will present “Billie and Blue Eyes,” a stunning concert tribute to Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Starring Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell and jazz guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, and audience favorite John Pizzarelli, the afternoon concert promises an energizing range of jazz and blues classics, with a few holiday selections to mark the season.

Catherine Russell hails from music royalty – her father was Louis Armstrong’s music director and her mother performed with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. One of the premiere songstresses of our day, Russell has recorded and toured with David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and Paul Simon – just to name a few – and she has appeared on over 200 albums. Russell won a Grammy Award for her appearance on the soundtrack album for the HBO series, Boardwalk Empire , and her six solo albums showcase her vocal talents, described on her website as “full-blown femininity incarnate; a dusky, stalwart and soulful instrument that radiates interpretive power yet remains touchingly vulnerable.”

Once described in The New York Times as a “supreme musical extrovert,” John Pizzarelli also has music royalty in his bloodline. Son of jazz legend Bucky Pizzarelli, he has been credited with popularizing jazz for contemporary listeners, and breathing new life into the Great American Songbook. His discography spans over 33 years and includes countless collaborations with artists as varied as The Boston Pops Orchestra, Paul McCartney, Kristin Chenoweth, and James Taylor.

Whether you’re a fan of the old school, new school, or you just enjoy hearing stylish renditions of Christmas favorites with your family, you do not want to miss John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell in their concert tribute to “Billie and Blue Eyes.”

“Billie and Blue Eyes,” featuring John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell is sponsored by Abbey Tent and Party Rentals, WSHU, Morris Media and Hansen’s Flower Shop. Tickets are $65, $55 | $40 for Quick Members. For more information or to reserve your seat, visit www.quickcenter.com or call the box office at 203-254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.

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Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic university rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and across the globe are pursuing degrees in the University’s five schools. Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values. The University is located on a stunning 200-acre campus on the scenic Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.