Women in Jazz Showcase

Women in Jazz Showcase
Featuring Pamela Wise, Lady Vonne & Naima Shambourger

Join us for an elegant evening celebrating the powerhouse women of jazz. The performance features an extraordinary rhythm section with Pamela Wise on piano, Laura Simone on bass, and Gayelynn McKinney on drums.

The showcase highlights two exceptional vocal sets. Opening the evening at 6:00 PM is Naima Shambourger. Praised as a modern heir to Sarah Vaughan’s legacy, Ms. Shambourger delivers a masterful presence shaped by classical training, a deep jazz lineage, and heartfelt phrasing. At 7:30 PM, the stage welcomes Lady Vonne, a renowned Detroit jazz, R&B, and soul vocalist celebrated for her glamorous stage presence and timeless voice.

About Naima
Naima Shamborguer was born and raised in Detroit Michigan. Born to a musical family, professional musicians surrounded her. From her early days of musical training, Naima developed highly artistic and finely polished vocal abilities through extensive training in classical and jazz music, but jazz music is where Naima has made a successful career. On two occasions Naima received The Spirit of Detroit award from the City Council of Detroit. Recognizing the exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership, and dedication to improving the quality of life and “The Women in Jazz.” The late Hugh Lawson deemed her “the closest that he has ever heard to Sarah Vaughan, all she needs is to be heard.” Inducted into the Kresge Fellow program in 2020. And with performances ranging from the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor to the Peacock Jazz Café in Toledo, Ohio and back up to the Dirty Dog Jazz Café in Detroit, MI.

About Lady Vonne
Lady Vonne (born Yvonne Dowell) is an acclaimed jazz, R&B, and standards vocalist based in Detroit, Michigan. Often described as a musical blend of Ella Fitzgerald, Phyllis Hyman, and Diana Ross, she is highly regarded as one of Detroit's premier jazz greats.

About Pamela Wise
Building upon the Detroit jazz connection established with Lady Vonne, Pamela Wise (also known as Pamela Wise Harrison) is an acclaimed contemporary jazz pianist, composer, and educator based in Detroit, Michigan. She is highly revered for her unique style that fuses post-bop jazz with fiery Afro-Cuban and West African rhythms.

About Gayelynn McKinney
Continuing the deep exploration of Detroit’s iconic jazz legacy, Gayelynn McKinney is one of the most decorated, formidable, and trailblazing drummers in the history of the Detroit jazz scene. With a career spanning multiple decades, she has served as a master rhythmist, composer, educator, and a crucial anchor for women in percussion.

About Laura Simone
Continuing the thread of exceptional women in jazz, Laura Simone is a rising 20-year-old jazz bassist, vocalist, and activist. Originally from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, she is currently a junior at Michigan State University studying under the mentorship of renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker.