Club 321 featuring Michelle Willson and her Evil Gal Festival Orchestra

Known to blues lovers the around the world as “Evil Gal” and acknowledged by aficionados of Jazz and Blues as a passionate and gifted performer, bandleader and songwriter, Michelle Willson has recorded and released 4 critically acclaimed albums for Rounder/ Bullseye Records, as well as a live album recorded at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, MA. She is featured on two recordings with Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All Stars and has toured Europe and Canada with the group. Michelle has also appeared on two recent Duke Robillard recordings.

Before signing with Rounder, Michelle’s group won a prestigious W.C. Handy award for best unsigned blues act as a result of their win at the Blues Foundation’s International Blues competition and Michelle was later nominated for a (best female blues vocal) Handy alongside Etta James and Koko Taylor.

Michelle’s music is regularly played on blues radio and internet programs all around the globe and her original music has been featured in the HBO series “Mind of the Married Man”, as well as on the 2008 House of Blues compilation album “Essential Women in the Blues.”

Michelle’s performances and recordings have received rave reviews from such respected sources as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Downbeat, The Japan Times, GQ, Jazz Times and Living Blues, in addition to various other publications from many different countries.

For over 3 years, Michelle hosted 2 weekly programs, “Voices of Jazz” and “Jazz n’ Blue” on one of the few remaining NPR music stations, WICN, in Worcester, MA. She currently hosts “Morning Vibe Time”, weekdays 6-9am and is also WICN’s production manager.

Michelle wrote and produced: “Destination Moon – a tribute to Dinah Washington” which debuted to a packed house at the Beehive in Boston and then sold out a repeat performance at Chan’s in Woonsocket, RI.

Michelle’s amazing voice, intense, engaging style, her vast knowledge of and passion for Jazz and Rhythm & Blues music combined with the rock solid support provided by her talented and tight backup band add up to a unique and unforgettable show!

photo credit (Alex Rodriguez)