Stella Heath Sextet - Tribute to Billie Holiday at SFJAZZ

Name: Stella Heath Sextet - Tribute to Billie Holiday at SFJAZZ
Start: 2025-09-06T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-06T20:00:00-07:00
Location: SFJAZZ

Schedule

Sat Sep 06 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

SFJAZZ | San Francisco, CA

Stella Heath Sextet Live at SFJAZZ – Joe Henderson Lab
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Billie Holiday.
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the timeless music of Billie Holiday, performed live by the Stella Heath Sextet in the intimate Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ Center.
Shrouded in mystery as she was draped in fur, Billie Holiday was as complex as she was iconic—tender, raw, and unapologetically real. With a voice that could haunt or heal, she made each song her own, as if whispering it directly into your soul.
Billie made the courageous decision in 1939 to sing “Strange Fruit” at a time when racial division was deeply rooted and violently enforced. Her choice to perform such a searing protest song—night after night, in front of packed audiences—marked her as one of the grandmothers of the Civil Rights Movement. She used her voice and her position to take a powerful stand, long before it was safe or common to do so.
The Billie Holiday Project brings that legacy to life, capturing both the emotional depth and fearless artistry of Lady Day. Led by acclaimed vocalist Stella Heath, this sextet recreates the magic and intimacy of a 1940s Billie Holiday concert—up close, personal, and powerfully alive.
Featuring
Stella Heath - Vocals
Neil Angelo Fontano - Piano
Ian Scherer - Guitar
Robby Elfman - Sax/ Clarinet
Daniel Fabricant - Bass
Spike Klein - Drums
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th
7pm & 8:30pm shows
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7th
6pm & 7:30pm shows