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LILLIAN BOUTTÉ

LILLIAN BOUTTÉ was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the capital of Jazz music. First known as a talented gospel singer, Lillian's musical repertoire extends into Jazz, R & B, Swing and Blues.

For the last 17 years she has globetrotted around the world spreading her unique and feisty sound in entire Europe and as well on the Asian Jazz scene of Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand +Australia. She can be seen in Stevenson Pallifi's award winning documentary >Piano Players rarely play together< featuring Professor Longhair, Toots Washington and her friend and mentor Allen Toussaint. She can also be seen in her cameo appearance in Allen Parker's film >Angel Heart< and is featured on the soundtrack with the Blues great Brownie McGee.

Her life long friend Mr.Vernell Bagneris moulded her acting skills. When he casted her in his black Vaudeville music ONE MO' TIME, where he kept her busy with the show for 4 years in New Orleans, Sweden and Brazil.

In 1986 LILLIAN returned home to be honoured by her city with the official title of 'Musical Ambassador' which had not been bestowed on a New Orleans musician since the world famous Louis Armstrong. LILLIAN has been compared with the legendary female voices of Jazz music as Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson and she has had the unique distinction of being one of the only performers to wear two different 'hats' at the Jazz & Heritage Festival by performing in the Jazz- and the Gospel categories in the same year. She has performed and can be heard on recordings with legendary music greats as Jay Mc Shane, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Milt Hinton, Gus Johnson, Sammy Price, Doc Cheatham, Arnett Cobb, Al Casey, Dr. John, Benny Waters, Danny Barker, Professor Longhair , Clark Terry and with England's trumpet great Humphrey Lyttelton.

With success in 1992 she spearheaded 45 of her New Orleans music friends and brought the sounds of Cajun, Soul, R & B, Gospel traditional N.O. Brassband and as well New Orleans cuisine to 22 cities in Germany under the title SPIRIT OF LOUISIANA.

In 1993 she originated the project GOSPEL UNITED in co-operation with 2 Danish organizers, where she was able to show her musical and social influences.

This project of 1994 brought LILLIAN and her New Orleans gospel group together with 1000 voices of students from all over Denmark —including a Live-CD and TV-coverage with great success, which went into another project in 1995 with a choir this time of 3000 voices on stage with her. As an 'Ambassador' she has become the liaison between political and official dignitaries of the city of New Orleans and various festivals throughout Europe.

Lillian appears at the Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall with Denny Ilett (guitar) and the Tommy Melville Quartet on Tues 3rd Dec 2002. Admission £7, 8-30pm until 11-00pm. Tel 01706 214039