This is the concert for anyone who loves the classic jazz songs, the the ones defined by Ella and Billie. At Victoria tonight you can experience genuine jazz history - the two front ladies have a total of over 120 years of experience on stage! Yet they have their artistic vitality intact. There will be improvisation and scat, with ballads and poems and, not least, they stay far away from the well-trodden path. These ladies do what they want.

Sheila Jordan has been singing jazz since the early 40's. In 1951 she moved to New York to study harmony under Charles Mingus. She was a good friend of Charlie Parker (and married his pianist) and Parker's song "Chasing the Bird" was written to her. At the same time she created her own career as a singer and songwriter. Sixty years later, she is still active and extremely vigorous. And she is still among the very few who can improvise long and continuous song lyrics from the stage.

Jay Clayton has long career behind her in the service of jazz musician, teacher, festival manager and promoter. She was one of the first who mixed electronics with poetry, she has recorded John Cage's vocal works and was long a member of the Steve Reich ensemble.