World traveled vocalist Renée Georges and Georjazz will perform on Sunday, June 19 in the first outdoor concert of the season presented by Jazz Beyond Borders in the garden courtyard of Cafe Mezzanotte in Severna Park, Maryland. In the monthly music series, guests enjoy Mediterranean cuisine while listening to international recording and performing artists.

A Los Angeles native, Renée Georges toured internationally working with the likes of MC Hammer and Ray Charles. She crossed four continents as one of the last Raelettes to hit the road with Ray Charles in a backing vocal career that spanned from 1994 until Charles’ final show in 2003. She is now a Maryland resident with a multi-faceted career and fronts her own group. (See https://www.rgeorjazzmusic.com for more information.)

Says Georges, “Every year is a new opportunity to honor the unique contributions of New Orleans jazz, with its historic sound, rooted in the cultural blend of African, French and Creole people.” With this show she will be honoring her Louisianan ancestors – and there are more reasons to celebrate! The concert takes place on Father’s Day and also celebrates Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Renée Georges and Georjazz features some of the best-known musicians currently performing in the nation’s capital. Among them are bassist Herman Burney, percussionist Nasar Abadey and the singer’s husband, trombonist DuPort Georges. Their lively program includes selections of standards and popular songs conveying the distinctive sound of New Orleans.

Music lovers around the globe are familiar with the elements associated with the sound – Dixieland, blues, spirituals and brass bands. The Jazz Beyond Borders audience can look forward to tunes such as “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “Wade in the Water,” “Right Place, Wrong Time” and “Do you know what it Means to Miss New Orleans.” A unique arrangement of “What a Wonderful World” will feature vocalist Renée and her husband, trombone player DuPort Georges, in an acoustic duet.

Seating for the outdoor show on June 19 is at 5:00 p.m. Music begins at 5:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the concert will move indoors, where tables are socially distanced and windows afford fresh air. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online from instant seats (select Cafe Mezzanotte as the venue): https://instnt.us/CafeMezz Please note: the box office closes two hours before the show and most shows sell out in advance. For information call 410-647-1100.

Now in its sixth year, Jazz Beyond Borders matches cultural diversity with artistic excellence, bringing world class artists to festivals, concerts, classrooms and airwaves. The jazz and world music series with Cafe Mezzanotte was begun in November 2019. Shows are offered spring through fall in a beautiful courtyard adjacent to the restaurant, moving indoors as the weather cools.