Those who like their jazz a little 'left-of-centre' need look no further - Lea DeLaria will close the 2nd Annual Brisbane Jazz Festival 2008 when she swings into the Powerhouse Theatre and grabs it by the groove for one raw and wild night only on Thursday 6 November, 2008.
Lea Delaria is NAKED combines Lea's in-your-face stand-up, queer ethics, back-stage stories and the latest music from her soon to be released fourth CD, The Live Smoke Sessions.
The first openly gay comic to appear on national television in the United States (Arsenio Hall, 1993), her one-of-a-kind blend of cool jazz and comedy has seen her tour the world, creating a stir and winning rave reviews everywhere she goes (Muff Diva - Best of the Fest Edinburgh 1993).
A consummate performer, and bonafide star, Lea Delaria has distinguished herself in every form of entertainment she touches, Broadway diva, stand up comic, actor, writer and now jazz singer, with her debut album Play It Cool hailed by The Times as 'the best jazz album of 2001'.
After starting her career in the early '80s DeLaria quickly became a successful and controversial stand-up comedian, working the clubs for some years, before moving into the worlds of TV and film. She worked regularly in musical theatre, most notably on Broadway in her award winning performances in On the Town and The Rocky Horror Show.
Her powerful voice was soon recognized by Warner Brothers Records who produced her first jazz vocal album. The single 'The Ballad of Sweeney Todd' remained at number one on Jazz Radio in the United States for two months and her second album, Double Standards leapt onto the Billboard Jazz Chart at number six.
As well recording two live comedy albums, Bulldyke in a China Shop and Box Lunch, Lea has also developed specials for HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, CBC and Channel 4 including work for which she received a 1994 regional Emmy (The World According To Us, Lifetime).
Lea has toured most of the large jazz festivals including the London Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival New York and the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival Tour.
Lea Delaria takes over the Powerhouse Theatre on Thursday 6 November 2008.
Caution: Not for the faint of heart.
