Josephine Baker, the world-famous singer, dancer, actress - in other words, performance artist - first came to Budapest exactly 90 years ago, in 1928. In this concert, Nicole Rochelle and the Gramophonia Hot Jazz Orchestra, led by Tamás Bényei, will honour her memory. Josephine Baker was discovered as a street dancer, and came to New York from Saint Louis as a dancer in a vaudeville troupe, and appearing in clubs there she moved to Paris, which as a 19-year-old she chose as her new home, in 1925. While she became a celebrated star in France, her appearances in America continued to be unsuccessful. She received severe criticism, and was often the victim of racist attacks. During World War Two she supported the French Resistance and was also at the forefront of the African-American civil rights movement.
Nicole Rochelle could be described as a 21st century Josephine Baker: like her great predecessor, she excels in nearly every branch of the performing arts, and she also chose France as her own second home. The Hot Jazz Band, the only jazz group to win the Kossuth Prize, have been working to bring recognition and appreciation for the popular music of the 1920s, 30s and 40s for more than 30 years with unparalleled success, earning a wide range of national and international recognition. The band's leader, Tamás Bényei, formed the Gramophonia Hot Jazz Orchestra big band in 2014 with the aim of revitalising the big band sound of the era. Together with Nicole Rochelle, the band are sure to create an unforgettably joyous atmosphere for this concert.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest