Nellie McKay has released seven acclaimed albums, won a Theatre World Award for her Broadway portrayal of Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera, co-created and starred in the award winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats, and has conceived and performed musical biographies of Barbara Graham, Rachel Carson, Joan Rivers, and Billy Tipton. She offers another master class in wry sincerity with Bagatelles, accompanying herself on ukulele, piano, Fender Rhodes and Theremin, on such indelible American anthems as ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ and ‘ The Best Things in Life Are Free.'” -Nate Chinen “Last year, with Sister Orchid, Nellie McKay delved into the standard songbook as if rummaging through a costume trunk - but she wasn’t fooling, not really. One of America’s great eccentric musical treasures delivers it all with uncanny sass, diverse musicality and a big wink." McKay doesn’t bring politics into her music these days, but her songbook does contain politically themed songs such as “Ridiculous."lovably idiosyncratic cabaret savant Nellie McKay is all over the musical map. She is also passionate about civil and women’s rights issues. She received PETA’s Humanitarian Award for her work with animal rights causes. She also touted by critics for her music for and performance in Ethan Coen’s “A Play is a Poem.”Īlong with her music, McKay is an advocate on social and political issues affecting people around the world.
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Her third album, “Obligatory Villagers,” was the inspiration for a ballet by the Chase Brock Experience. She won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum in “The Threepenny Opera” and co-created and starred in the award-winning vaudeville-style show “Old Hats.”
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Along with her solo music, she has performed in and written music for film, TV and theater. McKay has been influenced by a range of styles and performers, including legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. She was a finalist for the Shortlist Music Prize. She released her debut double album, “Get Away from Me,” in 2004, the same year she toured with Barenaked Ladies and Alanis Morissette. We aim to entertain,” McKay says.īorn in London and raised in Harlem, McKay first played the piano and later started singing. “I try to just make people happy with the music. She hopes audiences will smile and laugh along with her during her performances. As much as we can honor that, I like to.” “When you go to a concert, a lot of times you want to hear that one song. “The venue informs the show, and the people who come and what they want to hear inform the show,” McKay says. McKay encourages listeners to make requests during the show. “I welcome hecklers or people who want to dance or sing along. In Chandler, she hopes to create an intimate feeling, where the audience feels involved in the show. It is easier doing solo shows, in a way, but when they are around, it’s a party,” McKay jokes.Īlong with her new music, she has also been performing songs from her other albums. My band eats too much when they are on the road. “It’s a solo album, so it’s easy to take on the road. “It was pretty light and breezy, music you could sing to yourself by the riverbank,” McKay says.ĭuring many of her recent performances, McKay has been doing music from this album. She was also going for a more serene sound. McKay says the EP is different from its sister album because she used a ukulele, an instrument she says is good to play in bed.
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You just have to get out of the way,” McKay says.
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“There are so many wonderful songs that have been written that you try to cover, that you want to live up to. On the EP, she performs standards such as “How About You?” “Up a Lazy River,” “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” “Rockabye Your Baby” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo Dah.”