Soul singer Sheléa has been handpicked by Quincy Jones as the second resident act at his Dubai jazz club, Q’s
The American vocalist and pianist will lead a four-piece band, taking over the stage at the Palazzo Versace Dubai club, from February 14 – replacing outgoing jazz drummer Ollie Howell.
She arrives in the emirates fresh from touring alongside Stevie Wonder – who she has described as a “mentor” – and was once invited to perform for President Obama at The White House.
Wonder and Brian McKnight were both featured on Sheléa's first album Love Fell on Me, released in 2013, which mixes classic elements of soul, jazz, R&B and pop.
“After working with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan, you know one when you see one – and Sheléa is really one,” said Jones.
“She’s got the swing, pitch, and style, and is guaranteed to make you shake. Check – her – out.”
A lifelong Whitney Houston fan, following the star’s sad passing in February 2012, Sheléa was inspired to create a video performing a touching live medley of Houston classics alone at the keys, which went viral and reached more than half a million viewers.
One of those viewers was regular Houston producer/co-writer Narada Michael Walden, who invited Sheléa to sing Houston's number one hits live at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Walden would later co-write and co-produce Have I Ever Told You, a cut from her debut album Love Fell on Me.
Soon after Wonder invited Sheléa to The White House, and later the same year she joined Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, Joan Osborne and Patti Austin at the Kennedy Centre, performing for the UN International AIDS Conference.
Sheléa will be onstage five nights a week at Q’s, backed by guitar, bass and drums.
UK jazz heavyweight Howell will perform for the last time at Q’s on February 13 – and fans of intense, instrumental, improvisatory work-outs are seriously advised to check him out.
• Q's is opened Tuesday-Saturday 6pm-2am, with live performances typically starting from 8.30pm. Reservations 04 556 8851 or info@palazzoversace.ae
rgaratt@thenational.ae
