“Sue Matthews’ delivery is intimate, flawless, and smooth. Matthews’ vocals smolder with dynamics and technical precision.”   – Kent Zimmerman, The Gavin Report

Backed by guitar stars Steve Abshire and Steve Herberman, vocalist Sue Matthews performs Sunday, May 16 in the first outdoor concert of the season presented by Jazz Beyond Borders at Cafe Mezzanotte in Severna Park. The music series will be held spring – fall in a beautiful courtyard adjacent to the restaurant, moving indoors as the weather cools. Guests can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine as they listen to international recording and performing artists.

One of Maryland’s most prominent jazz singers, Sue Matthews is celebrated on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. Known for her honey-toned vocals, she has amassed thousands of adoring fans in her decades long career – anyone who has enjoyed her exquisite phrasing and smokey voice can tell you why. She has entertained audiences across the U.S. and in top jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals in North America, South America and Europe. Known for her interpretations of the Great American Songbook, she has been widely praised for her recordings and performances.  Her ability to find nuance in classic tunes assures listeners of a fresh listening experience time and time again.  

Guitar virtuoso Steve Abshire has a sterling reputation in the Mid-Atlantic. Known widely as a solo guitarist, collaborator and accompanist, he can do amazing things with six strings.  For nearly two decades he performed with the Commodores, the Navy’s premiere jazz ensemble. His mainstream style developed from years of study with Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel and rhythm guitarist Steve Jordan. He has performed with Ellis and other icons such as Charlie Byrd, Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola. He can be found on numerous recordings including six of his own. Downbeat Magazine described him as “fluent, assured, directly communicative.”

Steve Herberman is one of the most respected names in the world of jazz guitar. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he began playing seven-string guitar in 1993. He has recorded numerous CD’s as a leader and sideman. He has performed in many of the great American concert halls and clubs, including Birdland (NYC), Spazio (LA), and Blues Alley and the Kennedy Center closer to home. He has performed with renowned musicians such as Keter Betts, Gary Bartz, John Pisano and is featured in the book The Great Jazz Guitarists by Scott Yanow. 

On Sunday, the trio will perform familiar favorites including Gershwin’s “Our Love is Here to Stay,” Ellington’s “Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear from Me,” and Lerner & Loewe’s “On the Street Where You Live.” Before the evening is over, Matthews will pay special tribute to beloved multi-instrumentalist and composer John E. Starr, Jr., who was killed in a car collision on Easter Sunday. The two met during freshman year at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and were lifelong friends. She’ll perform “Stormy Weather,” a tune they performed many times in many places over the years. 

Seating for the outdoor show is from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May16 (rain date May 23). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from http://www.instanseats.com (short link: https://instnt.us/ZwGib) Attendees must wear a mask when not dining and social distancing guidelines will be followed.

Cafe Mezzanotte is located at 760 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146. Just 15 minutes north of Annapolis and 20 minutes south of Baltimore City, the venue offers free and convenient parking. For more information call 410-647-1100.

Now in its fifth year, Jazz Beyond Borders is a cultural diversity organization bringing world music and jazz artists to festivals concerts, classrooms and airwaves. Events are presented in live, streaming and hybrid formats. The jazz and world music series at Cafe Mezzanotte was begun in November 2019.