The Count’s The Jezebel of Jazz: The Anita O’Day Songbook feat Chelsea Wilson

Fearless, fiery, and utterly unforgettable, Anita O’Day was the original rebel of jazz. Nicknamed “The Jezebel of Jazz”, O’Day defied convention at every turn. In an era of sequined gowns and demure smiles, she strode onstage in tailored suits. She drank, she fought, she went to jail, but most of all, she sang with raw nerve and an unshakable spirit.

In this show, Melbourne vocalist, broadcaster and producer Chelsea Wilson celebrates O’Day’s audacious spirit and timeless songbook with her quartet, joined by Adam Rudegeair on piano (PBS 106.7FM), Hadyn Murtagh on bass, and Rod Gilbert on drums (Shuffle Club/The Syncopaters). Expect bebop, swing, Latin jazz and stories of the life of a woman who lived on her own terms.

A Melbourne-based vocalist, songwriter, broadcaster and producer, Chelsea has been hailed as a “modern-day renaissance woman” (Blue in Green Radio). With a lifelong passion for jazz, she has presented acclaimed radio programs including Jazz Got Soul on PBS 106.7FM, Stolen Moments on RRR FM, and Bent Notes on JOY FM. Behind the scenes she served as Artistic Director of Stonnington Jazz, Artistic Associate of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Senior Producer of Contemporary Music at MPAC, managing the Live at The Counts and Big Jazz Day Out programs. She has worked alongside leading Australian jazz figures such as Paul Grabowsky, Andrea Keller and Jake Mason, and appeared as a speaker at global industry events including Indie-Con, BIGSOUND, and the NYC Jazz Congress at Lincoln Center. She has been twice nominated for the Creative Leadership Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards.