A cartoon image of a vintage styled red haired vocalist singing into a microphone against a blue background

a stylised/cartoonish blue night sky with stars and a crescent moon. A drawing of a singer in a green dress sings into a microphone. The accompaning text says "Louise Messenger Sings Ella At Zardi's"

a singer with red hair sings into a microphone with her eyes closed and her arms outstreched. She is in a vintage black sequined gown. Behind her is a serious looking musician playing the double bass.

Ella at Zardi's

Music • Jazz

International

For two weeks in 1956, Ella Fitzgerald headlined Zardi's in Hollywood. On the final night they recorded the whole gig - a rare glimpse into what it was like to be in an intimate jazz club with the most famous jazz singer of them all - joking, forgetting words, taking requests. Then for 60 years the tapes lie forgotten.
Join acclaimed vocalist Louise Messenger along with her swinging trio as they recreate in its entirety this magical lost Ella album.

★★★★ "Messenger is a singer of almost impossible talent and class - She certainly manages to encapsulate Ella and the style of the time. She is pitch-perfect, powerful, passionate and imaginative” Glam Adelaide

★★★★★ “The mood was right, the music was swinging and Louise was as always, the consummate entertainer.” All About Entertainment

Presented by: Louise Messenger

Originally from Adelaide - now based in London, Louise loves all things swing. Her greatest influences are Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Keely Smith and the Boswell Sisters. As well as classic standards, she is always seeking tunes that are a little left of centre, and loves to bring back to life songs from Tin Pan Alley and the Great American Songbook that have been forgotten in the jazz canon.

With a dynamic and smokey voice, Louise loves to entertain and connect with her audiences. An avid swing dancer herself, she loves to sing for dancers as well as jazz lovers, and can most often be found on stage completely unable to keep still.

"Louise Messenger is a superb performer: she's funny, energetic, sassy, talented, engaging and has a stunning voice" - The Upside News

Reviews & Fringefeed Reacts

Louise Messenger is spectacular, what a voice! Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald is an intimidating prospect, but Louise pulled off a deeply humbl - Customer Reviews from Design My Night, London, Design My Night
Messenger is a singer of almost impossible talent and class. - Tracey Korsten, Glam Adelaide
Early on Louise said that Ella has always given her “ebullient joy”, and by the end of the night we were all pretty joyful too. - Dave Bradley, The Clothesline
The mood was right, the music was swinging and Louise was as always, the consummate entertainer. - Stephen Foenander, All About Entertainment