Eartha
Kitt Eartha Kitt —
Live At The Cheltenham Jazz Festival [album
+ DVD]
“The
magnificent Eartha Kitt, whom
Orson Welles described in 1950 as being
‘the most exciting woman in the world’
has so much stamina — this glamorous,
high-kicking grandmother can still
hold
her
audience enthralled as she
seductively sings song after glorious
song...”
BORN IN SOUTH CAROLINA, EARTHA KITT is a versatile performer who kicked off
her showbiz career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe. Dared by
a friend to audition for the prestigious company, she won a spot as a featured
dancer and vocalist. Her film debut came in 1948, in Casbah and she was
the perfect Catwoman in the late 1960s television series Batman, alongside
Adam West in the title role.
Eartha has also been the voice of YZMA, the villain in Disney's animated feature
The Emperor's New Groove and appeared in Orson Welles' production of
Dr Faust. Her stage career is just as exciting and inspirational and
she was booked at The Village Vanguard in New York. To say that her performances
are sensational is no exaggeration — she is a living legend who has now
been performing for a staggering 65 years.
Eartha's looks, her unforgettable voice and her electrifying presence quickly
attracted the attention of a Broadway producer, who put her in New Faces
of 1952. This multi-talented lady then took Broadway by storm and has now
performed in over one hundred countries. In 1960 she was honoured with a star
on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Star of movies, television and the stage, she
sings in ten different languages and has made a name for herself in both Jazz
and Cabaret.
Now, unbelievably still performing at the age of 81, Eartha Kitt's first-ever
live concert DVD — the recordings of her sell-out opening concert
at the world renowned Cheltenham Jazz Festival of 2008 — will be
released on 27 October (2008). Fun, flirtatious and kittenish, Eartha Kitt is
singing and dancing like a woman less than half her age; her mesmerising performance
holding the audience spellbound as she performs in a long skirt slashed to the
thigh, portraying sultry and sexy as she always has.
Eartha's electrifying and unforgettable concerts are always complete sell-outs
and it's not surprising! She gives a wonderful rendition of Ain't Misbehavin'
(originally sung by Fats Waller) and the superb Guess Who I Saw Today —
Could I Leave You? and has some fun with "champagne waiter" Rory Tufano,
who should be applauded for his resilience!
It is astounding that this lithe and supple lady with her distinctive and enchanting
purr can still arrest an audience, attract rapturous applause and bring a smile
to everyone's face as she sings, ad-libbing from the heart, "thanks to you,
I'm still here" (I'm Still Here, written by Stephen Sondheim).
Remember, this is the lady who curled her sex-infused vocals around the brilliant
I'm Just An Old Fashioned Girl as she listed her wants, that included
an old-fashioned millionaire. In Speaking Of Love, she sings "I'll
be your nincompoop; just be my income-poop" and the amazingly spirited Come
On A-My House (originally sung by Rosemary Clooney, mother of 'Gorgeous'
George) is a masterpiece sung in a mixture of English and quick-fire Japanese.
Among the wonderful songs are: What Is This Thing Called Love (written
by Cole Porter); How Insensitive (Written by Antonio Carlos Jobim);
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor classic disco hit with a stunning acoustic
interpretation); I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (written by Irving
Berlin); La Vie En Rose (Originally sung by Edith Piaf, who is one of
Eartha's influences); Hymn To Love (Originally sung by Edith Piaf); and
C'Est Si Bon. Also included are original Eartha Kitt hits of the 50s,
such as: Uska Dara; I Want To Be Evil; and Old Fashioned Girl.
And she also sings Sinatra standards: September Song; It Was A Very
Good Year; and Here's To Life.
"When you're 81 you just never know what's going to come out!" she jokes as
she reaches for a high note. Her repertoire includes the charming Uska Dara,
a little town, she says, just on the outskirts of Istanbul. The DVD reflects
Eartha's great showmanship, her visual appeal and her ability to connect with
her audience. "I have more fun with me than anybody," she laughs.
In thanking everyone for keeping her in the profession that she really loves
for over 65 years, Eartha is genuinely emotional. During Eartha Kitt In Conversation,
she mentions the song If You Go Away, written by Jacques Brel. She sings
it, she says, not for a lover but for her audience — what would she do
if they went away? She introduces Daryl Waters, who is her musical director
and plays piano. He has been with her for over 25 years and is like a son to
her. Together they wrote the captivating encore Alone.
The band members are: Musical Director/Piano: Daryl Waters; Guitar: Joe Friedman;
Bass: Luico Hopper; Drums: Brian Grice; and Percussion: Carlos 'Go-Go' Gomez.
Executive Producer is Barney Ashton; Director/Producer is Paul M Green. Eartha
Kitt In Conversation is Filmed by Thomas Cock and Narrated by Barney Ashton.
These releases are from her sell-out performance earlier this year (2008) at
the Pittville Pump Room when she headlined the prestigious Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
This thrilling performance will not only be enjoyed just by Eartha Kitt's fans,
but by anyone with a passion for Jazz or Cabaret. To watch Eartha is to love
her.
• It is with great pleasure that Network/Strike
Force Entertainment announce the releases of Eartha Kitt — Live At The
Cheltenham Jazz Festival on DVD and on CD) on 27 October (2008). DVD Running
Time: 90 mins | DVD RRP: £19.99 | Special Features: Eartha Kitt In Conversation
| Encore: Alone (An autobiographical reflection in song written by Eartha
Kitt and her musical director Daryl Waters). CD Running Time: 72 mins | CD RRP:
£12.99.
Eartha Kitt — Live At The Cheltenham Jazz Festival
(DVD)
DVD Track Listing
1 I'm Still Here | 2 Speaking Of Love | 3 Come On-A My House
| 4 Anything But Love | 5 What Is This Thing Called Love |
6 How Insensitive | 7 All My Life | 8 Uska Dara | 9 Guess
Who I Saw Today — Could I Leave You? | 10 I Will Survive | 11
Charleston | 12 Too Young To Be Meant For Me | 13 I Want To
Be Evil | 14 Ain't Misbehavin' | 15 I'm Just An Old Fashioned
Girl | 16 I've Got My Love | 17 La Vie En Rose | 18 If
You Go Away | 19 Hymn To Love | 20 C'est Si Bon | 21 September
Song | 22 It Was A Very Good Year | 23 Here's To Life
Eartha Kitt — Live At The Cheltenham Jazz Festival
(CD)
CD Track Listing
1 I'm Still Here | 2 Speaking Of Love | 3 Come On-A My House
| 4 Anything But Love | 5 What Is This Thing Called Love | 6 Uska
Dara | 7 Guess Who I Saw Today — Could I Leave You? | 8 I
Will Survive | 9 Too Young To Be Meant For Me | 10 I Want To Be
Evil | 11 Ain't Misbehavin' | 12 I'm Just An Old Fashioned Girl
| 13 I've Got My Love | 14 La Vie En Rose | 15 If You Go
Away | 16 C'est Si Bon | 17 September Song | 18 Here's
To Life
"The most exciting woman in the world" — Orson Welles on Eartha Kitt,
1950
"Fun, flirtatious and kittenish, Eartha Kitt is singing and dancing like a woman
less than half her age; her mesmerising performance holding the audience spellbound
as she performs in a long skirt slashed to the thigh, portraying sultry and
sexy as she always has" — MotorBar
