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Banu Gibson
Today, Banu (bah'new) Gibson stands virtually at the top of her
field. A superior and swinging jazz singer, Banu is one of the few
vocalists of her generation to stick exclusively to songs of the 1920s and
'30s. Not content to just copy singers of the past, she mixes fresh
renditions of standards and obscurities. Banu Gibson is a powerful force
on stage. Her enthusiasm and showmanship are highlighted by her
wide range and versatility, spanning Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday; The
Boswell Sisters to Sophie Tucker; and Lee Wiley to Fanny Brice.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Banu
studied dance from the age of three and voice after turning nine years
old. A natural performer, she graduated from college with a degree in
music and theater, and started working professionally as a dancer while
still in her teens. She was exposed to traditional jazz while working as a
singer and dancer opposite the great Dixieland trumpeter Phil
Napoleon, at Jackie Gleason's Joe the Bartender room in Miami Beach.
field. A superior and swinging jazz singer, Banu is one of the few
vocalists of her generation to stick exclusively to songs of the 1920s and
'30s. Not content to just copy singers of the past, she mixes fresh
renditions of standards and obscurities. Banu Gibson is a powerful force
on stage. Her enthusiasm and showmanship are highlighted by her
wide range and versatility, spanning Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday; The
Boswell Sisters to Sophie Tucker; and Lee Wiley to Fanny Brice.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Banu
studied dance from the age of three and voice after turning nine years
old. A natural performer, she graduated from college with a degree in
music and theater, and started working professionally as a dancer while
still in her teens. She was exposed to traditional jazz while working as a
singer and dancer opposite the great Dixieland trumpeter Phil
Napoleon, at Jackie Gleason's Joe the Bartender room in Miami Beach.
Banu moved to New York City to work the road band of Your Father's Mustache, and traveled the
continent from Victoria, B.C. to Guantanamo, Cuba. After a period working at Disneyland in The Class of '27
show, she moved to New Orleans where she formed The New Orleans Hot Jazz band in 1981.
Since then, Banu Gibson and her sextet have been featured at numerous concerts and jazz festivals, and
on recordings, most notably Banu's own label, Swing Out. She has been on the following radio and television
broadcasts: Entertainment Tonight; the PBS television series Dixieland Jazz from New Orleans; Joan
Lunden's syndicated show Everyday; four times as featured vocalist on Riverwalk, Live From The Landing
on Public Radio International. In 1986, Banu toured Europe with the late cornetist, Wild Bill Davison. She has
continuously performed abroad with her band in Germany, England, The Netherlands, Norway, and
Sweden and with a contingent of her band in Australia. In 1995, Banu traveled with her pianist/musical
director David Boeddinghaus, for a week of performances in Vienna including a gala appearance at the
Palais Auersperg. She sang in New York City with Dick Hyman at Jazz in July in 1991 and 1995.
Beginning in 1988 Banu and her band have taken their music to an expanded audience by including in
their touring, performances with symphony orchestras including the St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego, Sacramento, and New Orleans Symphonies, and a three night concert at the
Hollywood Bowl with John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra.
With an extensive repertoire of songs from the 1920s through the '40s, Banu's performance covers many
highlights of America's golden age of popular music. Not content to copy the past, Banu Gibson & the New
Orleans Hot Jazz are creative within the boundaries of the genre. They consistently invent fresh and
imaginative variations of songs as old as 60 years, giving new life to timeless, unforgettable music with their
irresistible presentation.
Courtesy: Jim Cullum, Riverwalk at the Landing
(From the editor: I agree, she’s a great performer. I saw her in New Orleans about 20 years ago. She was
playing banjo and about 8 months pregnant. A month later I saw Chris Harris, a great left handed banjo
player, also eight months pregnant!).
continent from Victoria, B.C. to Guantanamo, Cuba. After a period working at Disneyland in The Class of '27
show, she moved to New Orleans where she formed The New Orleans Hot Jazz band in 1981.
Since then, Banu Gibson and her sextet have been featured at numerous concerts and jazz festivals, and
on recordings, most notably Banu's own label, Swing Out. She has been on the following radio and television
broadcasts: Entertainment Tonight; the PBS television series Dixieland Jazz from New Orleans; Joan
Lunden's syndicated show Everyday; four times as featured vocalist on Riverwalk, Live From The Landing
on Public Radio International. In 1986, Banu toured Europe with the late cornetist, Wild Bill Davison. She has
continuously performed abroad with her band in Germany, England, The Netherlands, Norway, and
Sweden and with a contingent of her band in Australia. In 1995, Banu traveled with her pianist/musical
director David Boeddinghaus, for a week of performances in Vienna including a gala appearance at the
Palais Auersperg. She sang in New York City with Dick Hyman at Jazz in July in 1991 and 1995.
Beginning in 1988 Banu and her band have taken their music to an expanded audience by including in
their touring, performances with symphony orchestras including the St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego, Sacramento, and New Orleans Symphonies, and a three night concert at the
Hollywood Bowl with John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra.
With an extensive repertoire of songs from the 1920s through the '40s, Banu's performance covers many
highlights of America's golden age of popular music. Not content to copy the past, Banu Gibson & the New
Orleans Hot Jazz are creative within the boundaries of the genre. They consistently invent fresh and
imaginative variations of songs as old as 60 years, giving new life to timeless, unforgettable music with their
irresistible presentation.
Courtesy: Jim Cullum, Riverwalk at the Landing
(From the editor: I agree, she’s a great performer. I saw her in New Orleans about 20 years ago. She was
playing banjo and about 8 months pregnant. A month later I saw Chris Harris, a great left handed banjo
player, also eight months pregnant!).
| E-Rag Electronic Newsletter for EARLYJAS Editor: Phil Cartwright Editor@earlyjas.org |
| Earlville Association for Ragtime Lovers Yearning for Jazz Advancement and Socialization |
EARLYJAS