July 2001 brought jazzmobile back to the Island with the incredible and legendary Miss Irene Reid. The last of the 'dirty' divas We we fortunate to hear one the 'roots' of the blues..a singer who learnt her trade the hard way, playing the chitlin circuit and working the small clubs and jive joints..up in Harlem which was home to her. see http://www.georgeedwardtait.org/songbird_irene_reid_returns_to_j.htm for more info on her

July 2001 brought jazzmobile back to the Island with the incredible and legendary Miss Irene Reid. The last of the 'dirty' divas We we fortunate to hear one the 'roots' of the blues..a singer who learnt her trade the hard way, playing the chitlin circuit and working the small clubs and jive joints..up in Harlem which was home to her. see http://www.georgeedwardtait.org/songbird_irene_reid_returns_to_j.htm for more info on her

Jazzmobile - Miss Irene Reid..summer 2002

Miss Irene Reid

This 68-year-young Savannah, Georgia Native and long time Harlem resident has a story book history. As a young singer, Irene Reid aspired to appear on the greatest of stages in Black America, The Apollo. When she finally made it in the early 50's, she won the famed venue's amateur contest for '5 weeks in a row'. From 1948 to 1950, she was the > vocalist for Dick Vance, the big band at the famous Savoy Ballroom. She sang with Count Basie from 1961-62. Since then she went on to record 9 albums. She is a seasoned singer who has done it all!

Irene Reid..A great 'dirty" blues women ..she Listening to her and her unit (jazzmobile sponsored) was listening to the the blues in all their gutsy visceral history.

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Supposed to have played with Ike & Tina , and at the Apollo