'S Wonderful
Get into the swing of things when John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops perform Mid-Century Songbook: Ella, Nat & More with guest vocalists Mandy Gaines and Darius de Haas on April 2 and 3.
Enjoy favorites from the Great American Songbook with songs from icons like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and others.
Cincinnati's own, jazz vocalist Mandy Gaines joins the Pops with more than 20 years of professional experience, hailed as a talented, versatile vocalist and entertainer. She has entertains and delights audiences with refreshing, soulful and exciting performances.
Acclaimed for her soulful vocals and improvisational skills, Gaines began singing in school and church, and has been singing professionally since 1988. She is also a 2018 inductee into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame.
She has performed with jazz’s biggest names, including Wynton Marsalis and Randy Brecker. Her fresh interpretations of jazz, soul and pop classics have delighted audiences around the globe.
If Darius de Haas’s name isn’t familiar to you, his voice certainly is. He did all the the singing for the character Shy Baldwin in Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Born and raised in a musical family on Chicago’s South Side, de Haas is known for his soaring voice, he has proven successful as a performer ranging from the Broadway stage to recordings to concert venues throughout the world. He enjoys a multifaceted career as an award-winning, widely acclaimed popular singer and actor, having appeared in everything from As You Like It for Public Works to Lincoln Center’s Carousel Rent.
The Pops has recently expanded its capacity for indoor events, in accordance with Ohio Governor Mike Dewine's orders, with additional, socially distanced seats for these performances. The Pops continues to follow all state and CDC safety protocols for in-person performances, which will be 60-80 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are available atwww.cincinnatisymphony.org/tickets-and-events.
If you aren’t ready to attend in person, you can catch the FREE digital livestream premiere on April 3 at 7:30 pm. To watch, visit cincinnatipops.org/live, the Pops' YouTube channel or the Pops' Facebook page. FREE for 24 hours and available to watch anytime for $15 starting April 24.
These performances are also part of the Multicultural Awareness Council Series, a collection of concerts that amplify underrepresented musicians, composers and artists—all part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Cincinnati Pops photo: Mark Lyons