Rita Reys

Rita Reys was way back when billed as “Europe’s Initial Woman of Jazz.” A story abroad, Reys was among the best jazz performers in Europe from your mid-’50s towards the change of the millennium. Given birth to Maria Everdina Reys in Rotterdam, she started singing as an adolescent. Reys won many track contests and in 1941, when she was 16, became a member of the Hawaiian Minstrels. In 1943 she joined up with her father’s theatre orchestra. Additional early encounters included touring with Lex Vehicle Spall, Ted Natural powder, as well as the Piet Vehicle Dijk Orchestra. In 1945 she wedded drummer Wessel Ilcken, who launched her towards the postwar jazz picture. She caused her husband’s sextet for some of ten years. They were located in Stockholm for a while, where she documented with the fantastic baritonist Lars Gullin in 1953. In 1956 Reys documented probably her most well-known album, The Great Tone of voice of Rita Reys. Her back-up band was Artwork Blakey & the Jazz Messengers. Reys and Ilcken spent several months in america during 1956-1957. She experienced possibilities to sing not merely with Blakey but Jimmy Smith, Chico Hamilton, Clark Terry, and Mat Mathews. Back European countries, tragedy struck in 1957 whenever a car accident led to the loss of life of Wessel Ilcken. Over time, Reys continuing her profession. In 1960 she wedded pianist Pim Jacobs, operating regularly along with his combo until his loss of life in 1996. On the way she performed with Zoot Sims, Oliver Nelson, the Dutch Golf swing College Band, along with other notables. Reys, despite becoming affected by Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé, experienced her own method of caressing ballads and swinging uptempo music. She celebrated her 80th birthday during 2004-2005, composing her memoirs (Rita Reys — Woman Jazz) and having many unique performances, including tv special offers and concerts all over the Netherlands. A fantastic four-CD box collection, The Rita Reys Tale — Tunes of an eternity, amounts up her musical legacy, dating from 1953-2000.