WILLIAMSVILLE — On Sunday, Dec. 6, the Williamsville Eatery will host another musical soiree, featuring dinner and a concert. Jazz/gospel vocalist Wanda Houston will be supported by Eugene Uman on piano and David Picchi on bass.
The renovated interior of the old Williamsville General Store will contribute to the intimate concert experience. Because seating is limited to 25 - tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Originally from Chicago, Wanda Houston grew up singing gospel music in church and with her family's theater group. She has led an active career as an actress, performing on the grand stages of Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Broadway; she toured Europe as the wicked stepsister in Sisterella (for which she won “Best Supporting Actress in a Musical” by the NAACP, and has held lead roles in Ain't Misbehavin', Hello Dolly, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
She was part of the gospel group, Broadway Inspirational Voices, with whom she performed on PBS's Great Performances and earned a Grammy nomination. She has shared the stage with Oleta Adams, Patti Austin, Eartha Kitt, Liza Minelli, Pattie Labelle, Joe Cocker, Celine Dion, and Barbara Streisand.
Houston sings jazz with authenticity and passion and she is a great storyteller, too - coloring the spaces between her songs with fascinating stories of her youth and the trials and tribulations of life on the road.