lillian boutté
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A versatile singer born and raised in New Orleans, Lillian Boutté is capable of singing both Gospel, New Orleans Jazz Standards and Rhythm and Blues, Swing Era tunes and contemporary originals.
She started singing as a child (winning a vocal contest when she was 11), performed with her college’s gospel choir and then in 1973 was hired by Allen Toussaint as a backup singer for the many projects recorded in his studio.
Between 1979 and 1984 Boutté appeared as an actress and singer in the musical One Mo’ Time.
Lillian also sang at the Tennessee Williams memorial service in St. Louis Cathedral in her native New Orleans, and America’s high and mighty were treated to her interpretation of the national anthem in the Superdome.
For the last 20 years she has globetrotted around the world spreading her unique and feisty sound in entire Europe and as well on the Asian Jazz scene of Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. She can be seen in Stevenson Pallifi’s award winning documentary “Piano Players rarely play together” featuring Professor Longhair, Toots Washington and her friend and mentor Allen Toussaint. She can also be seen in her cameo appearance in Allen Parker’s film “Angel Heart” and is featured on the soundtrack with the Blues great Brownie McGee.
In 1986 Lillian returned home to be honoured by her city with the official title of ‘New Orleans’ Musical Ambassador” which had not been bestowed on a New Orleans musician since the world famous Louis Armstrong. Lillian has been compared with the legendary female voices of Jazz music as Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson and she has had the unique distinction of being one of the only performers to wear two different ‘hats’ at the Jazz & Heritage Festival by performing in the Jazz- and the Gospel categories in the same year.
She has performed and can be heard on recordings with legendary music greats as Jay McShann, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Milt Hinton, Gus Johnson, Sammy Price, Doc Cheatham, Arnett Cobb, Al Casey, Benny Waters, Danny Barker, Professor Longhair, Clark Terry, Humphrey Lyttelton, James Booker, Henry Butler, Danny Barker, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John, with whom she produced the CDs The Jazz Book (1993), and But Beautiful (1995). Together with Munich-based pianist and singer Christian Willisohn, Lillian Boutté has recorded the CDs Lipstick Traces , Come Together and You´ve Gotta Love Pops (2001).
Critics have compared Lillian Boutté with Bessie Smith, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson.