Today, Banu
(bah'new) Gibson stands virtually at the top of her field. A superior and swinging jazz
singer, Banu is one of the few vocalists of her generation to stick exclusively to songs
of the 1920s and '30s. Not content to just copy singers of the past, she mixes fresh
renditions of standards and obscurities. Banu Gibson is a powerful force on stage. Her
enthusiasm and showmanship are highlighted by her wide range and versatility, spanning
Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday; The Boswell Sisters to Sophie Tucker; and Lee Wiley to
Fanny Brice.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Banu studied dance from the age
of three and voice after turning nine years old. A natural performer, she graduated from
college with a degree in music and theater, and started working professionally as a dancer
while still in her teens. She was exposed to traditional jazz while working as a singer
and dancer opposite the great Dixieland trumpeter Phil Napoleon, at Jackie Gleason's Joe
the Bartender room in Miami Beach. Banu moved to New York City to work the road band of
Your Father's Mustache, and traveled the continent from Victoria, B.C. to Guantanamo,
Cuba. After a period working at Disneyland in The Class of '27 show, she moved to
New Orleans where she formed The New Orleans Hot Jazz band in 1981.
Since then, Banu Gibson and her sextet have been featured at numerous concerts and jazz
festivals, and on recordings, most notably Banu's own label, Swing Out. She has been on
the following radio and television broadcasts: Entertainment Tonight; the PBS
television series Dixieland Jazz From New Orleans; Joan Lunden's syndicated show Everyday;
four times as featured vocalist on Riverwalk, Live From The Landing
on Public Radio International. In 1986, Banu toured
Europe with the late cornetist, Wild Bill Davison. She has continuously performed abroad
with her band in Germany, England, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and with a contingent
of her band in Australia. In 1995, Banu traveled with her pianist/musical director David
Boeddinghaus, for a week of performances in Vienna including a gala appearance at the
Palais Auersperg. She sang in New York City with Dick Hyman at
Jazz in July in 1991 and 1995.
Beginning in 1988 Banu and her band have taken their music to an expanded audience by
including in their touring, performances with symphony orchestras including the St. Louis,
Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego, Sacramento, and New Orleans
Symphonies, and a three night concert at the Hollywood Bowl with John Mauceri and the
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra.
With an extensive repertoire of songs from the 1920s through the '40s, Banu's
performance covers many highlights of America's golden age of popular music. Not content
to copy the past, Banu Gibson & the New Orleans Hot Jazz are creative within the
boundaries of the genre. They consistently invent fresh and imaginative variations of
songs as old as 60 years, giving new life to timeless, unforgettable music with their
irresistible presentation.
Banu Gibson is featured in the Riverwalk programs:
Purchase Banu Gibson CDs
online here.
