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Sue PALMER (USA)

Her legs bowed intently, the laughter dancing above her fingertips, like a pool shark she is right on the money. Madame Palmer sets free the walking bass and the eight to the bar so inherent in this style of music. This musician possesses all the secrets of Boogie Woogie. « Le Monde », Paris, 1997 San Diego' s Queen of Boogie Woogie, Sue Palmer, has amazed audiences all over the world with her unique style and phenomenal left hand. She delights in creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the small clubs and cafes of 1932 Paris, Harlem and West Texas. Her first CD, which features many of her own compositions, has been described as "full of fun, and cool enough to cause crop damage to orange groves." Her new cd, "Soundtrack to a B Movie," features Sue Palmer&Her Motel Swing Orchestra. Mrs Palmer is no stranger to the spotlight. For five years, Sue was the musical partner of blues diva and recording artist Candye Kane. They toured France and most of Europe, including Scandinavia, Greece, and Turkey. Their travels also took them to Reunion Island, Canada, Australia, and all over the U.S. Under the moniker Sue "Beehive" Palmer with Candye Kane and the Swingin' Armadillos, she appeared on the Penn & Teller Show and the Roseanne Show, where Sue acted as the talk show band leader (1999). Sue is a featured artist on all four of Kane's CDs under the Antones and Sire labels. Sue's instrumental composition "Beehive" was featured on Kane's "Diva La Grande" CD, and Sue and Candye co-wrote the title tune on Kane's CD "Swango." "Swango" is also featured in the documentary "The Girl Next Door," a biography of porn star Stacy Valentine produced by National Public Radio's Christine Fugat in 2000. Equally at home with 12-bar blues, boogie woogie, swing, jazz or country, Sue is a successful band leader in her own right. She fronted her own swing band Tobacco Road for twelve years and produced and played on four independently released CD's. The recordings featured bassist, vocalist and arranger Preston Coleman who was an indispensable player in the Chicago and New York jazz scenes of the '30s and '40s. This wildly popular vintage swing band was the recipient of the prestigious San Diego Music Awards seven times between 1986-1994. Sue Palmer and Her Motel Swing Orchestra are now receiving rave reviews, and Sue's album, "Boogie Woogie and Motel Swing," was nominated for both Best Jazz Album and Best Blues Album in San Diego in 2000, and her latest album "Soundtrack to a B Movie," was nominated for Best Blues Album, 2001. Sue's love of theatre has taken her on stints with the comedy improv group Hot Flashes (featuring actress Maureen "Mo" Gaffney), as the pianist for the San Diego production of "Ain't Misbehavin'," and as coproducer and accompanist for actress Kathy Najimy at the famed Wing Cafe in San Diego. She received two Nicky awards from the Gay Community for Outstanding Entertainer and recently performed in Manhattan for the Gay and Lesbian Music Awards Ceremony (1999). She appeared in Keyboard magazine (1997) and was called a "virtuoso pianist" by Blue Suede News (Seattle 1999). Her recent multimedia one woman show, February 2002, a theatre presentation of "Soundtrack to a B Movie," featuring Sue Palmer&Her Motel Swing Orchestra, will be aired as a live show on KSDSJAZZ 88.3, and has been hailed as "a steam of sultry sound." In addition, Sue has appeared onstage and/or recorded with Lou Ann Barton, Sue Foley, Teddy Morgan, Lavelle White, Kim Wilson, Marcia Ball, Toni Price, The Paladins, Roy Gaines, Rosie Flores, Big Sandy and the FlyRite Boys, Dave Alvin, Cesar Rosas (Los Lobos), Earl Thomas, Del Rey, Lea Delaria, Pussy Tourette, Buddy Blue, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Fliers and opened for Walter Wolfman Washington. Sue backed up Floyd Dixon on a compilation tribute album to Tom Waits, "New Coat of Paint." She was included in the "Queens of Boogie Woogie" Show in Berkeley, CA at the Freight & Salvage, March, 2001 with Wendy Dewitt, Beverly Stovall, and Big Joe Duskin.

website : www.suepalmer.com

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