Belle Noire: A Dazzling Tribute to the Icons of Jazz

🎶 Belle Noire: A Dazzling Tribute to the Icons of Jazz

✨ Step into a world where history, music, and memory converge in a breathtaking celebration of the legendary Black women who shaped American music forever.

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🎭 About the Show

Belle Noire is an immersive theatrical concert honoring the extraordinary legacy of iconic Black female performers who defined American music — from the earliest days of jazz through the golden age of the Swing Era. Through a rich tapestry of live jazz, tap dance, cinematic projections, vintage visuals, elegant costuming, and narrative storytelling, the production traces a cultural and historical through-line from pioneering Black women entertainers to the artists of today.

This one-of-a-kind cabaret-meets-theater experience celebrates the sound, style, and soul of jazz legends including:

🎤 Lena Horne · Billie Holiday · Eartha Kitt · Dorothy Dandridge · Ella Fitzgerald

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🎬 Lost Moments, Brought Back to Life

The production features performances drawn from classic films such as Broadway Rhythm and Sun Valley Serenade — many of which were unjustly cut from southern theater releases. Belle Noire resurrects these erased moments through theatrical renditions and imaginative recreations, restoring the brilliance that was once denied its audience.

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👨‍👩‍👧 A True Family Affair

Belle Noire was conceived by New Orleans-born vocalist Kay Lewis and her mother Leila Lewis, originally developed in collaboration with choreographer and director Mickey Davidson for its New Orleans premiere. The New York presentation deepens the show's narrative arc and expands its historical scope.

The production is rooted in generations of New Orleans musicians, educators, and culture bearers. At its heart is the Lewis family:

• 🎙️ Kay Lewis — creator & featured vocalist
• 🎸 Kerry Lewis Sr. — veteran bassist, sound engineer & New Orleans Jazz National Park ranger
• 🥁 Korey Lewis Sr. — drummer & uncle
• 🎵 Damien Gibson — multi-instrumentalist uncle
• 🎶 Kerry Lewis Jr. — arranger, bassist & keyboardist
• 🎻 Kyle Lewis — cellist
• 💃 Gabrielle Lewis — featured dancer & choreographer (cousin)
• 🎨 Alexis McQuarter — artist behind the projected backdrops (cousin)

Rounding out this intergenerational ensemble is a circle of beloved "chosen family" mentors:

• 🎷 Louis Ford (saxophone)
• 🎺 Jamil Sharif (trumpet)
• 🎹 Mari Watanabe (piano)
• 🎺 Ronell "Roo" Johnson (trombone)

The beloved Gibson Lewis Harmony family band — a cherished winter tradition and creative laboratory — also forms part of this show's musical foundation.

"We weren't seeing much of this type of performance anywhere — not on YouTube, not online. Not just singers in pretty gowns, but theatrical, character-driven shows. So we figured if we started it, maybe others would be inspired to follow." — Leila Lewis

"As a family, we create for the joy of it. We've been presenting concerts together for years, just to bring our vision to life and hear the kind of music we wish artists still played." — Kay Lewis

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⏱️ Runtime

1 hour 40 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission

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🌟 More than a concert — Belle Noire is a living family album, a love letter to jazz history, and a celebration of the voices that were always worth hearing.