Updated: October 31, 2022
Born: June 30
Solo Performer. Vocalist. Topliner. Writer. Musician. Songwriter. Playwright. Librettist. Actor. TED Speaker.
Described as “...the unknown queen of Americana…” (Feedback, Norway), “..a Black Lucinda Williams…” and a “...brutal, original, explosive singer…” (Vanity Fair, Spain), Queen Esther’s creative output musically is the culmination of several critical Southern elements, not the least of which are years of recording and touring internationally as frontwoman for several projects with her mentor, harmolodic guitar icon James “Blood” Ulmer, including a stint in his seminal band Odyssey. Raised in Atlanta, GA and embedded in Charleston, SC’s Lowcountry – a region with African traditions and Black folkways that span centuries and constantly inform her work – Queen Esther uses her Southern roots as a touchstone to explore cultural mores in America, deconstructing well-worn historical narratives while creating a reclamation-driven soundscape.
A member of SAG/AFTRA, Actors Equity, Dramatists Guild and the Recording Academy, her work as a vocalist, lyricist, songwriter, actor, solo performer, playwright and librettist has led to creative collaborations in neo-vaudeville, alt-theater, various alt-rock configurations, (neo) swing bands, trip-hop DJs, spoken word performances, jazz combos, jam bands, various blues configurations, original Off-Broadway plays and musicals, experimental music/art noise and performance art.
Queen Esther’s most recent work includes: a sold-out weekend with her western swing collective The Black Rose of Texas at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola as well as their much-anticipated event 2022 Summer for the City that included a workshop at Jazz at Lincoln Center; and a grant from The 2022 New York City Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theater for Blackbirding, an alt-country album she’s currently recording – written during an all media artist residency at Gettysburg National Military Park. A proud member of Actor's Equity, SAG/AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild and The Recording Academy, her critically acclaimed 2021 Black Americana album Gild The Black Lily is the fourth release on her imprint EL Recordings – and her 2018 TED Talk about the true origins of country and bluegrass continues to reverberate throughout the Americana community.
Coming in 2023: Rona, an album of rangy alt-Americana songs written in Harlem during the early months of the pandemic lockdown, Blackbirding, the alt-country/jazz album created on the Gettysburg battlefield and Things Are Looking Up, a jazz album of original songs and Lady Day's lost classics.
Awards
2008 Grand Prize Winner, Jazzmobile Vocal Competition
Gear
Martin 18E Retro Acoustic Guitar
Martin S1 Soprano Ukulele
Tags
All About Jazz Articles
Queen Esther: Sings Jazz & Black Americana
by James Nadal
The multifarious talents which are the essence of extraordinary vocalist Queen Esther's identity, encompass the complete spectrum of music from rural southern blues and inner city jazz, to her innovative version of Black Americana. Born and raised in the Deep South, she was a prodigious child whose creativity was recognized early in life. After a successful artistic stint in Texas, where she perfected her unique take on folkloric roots music, Queen Esther relocated to New York City, embarking on a ...
read moreArticles Across the Web
...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.
- The Unknown Queen of Americana by Egon Holstad
- JC Hopkins Biggish Band: Meet Me At Minton's
- James Blood Ulmer, Hot Club Of Cowtown & David Lindley
- Save The Country - Songs Celebrating July 4th, New Releases, Birthday Shoutouts and More
- New Releases by Esperanza Spalding and Altoizm Plus A Jazz Celebration of the Songs of Joan Whitney
- Swingadelic: Toussaintville
Turtle Bay Records Release Episode 2 Of 'On The Back Porch' Video Series Featuring Queen Esther
Source:
EMPKT PR
Turtle Bay Records, the vibrant jazz label known for discovering and showcasing some of the best jazz artists in NYC, has launched an exciting new video series called On the Back Porch. This series takes you behind the scenes and into the world of the most dynamic performers on the jazz scene today. The label has released the second installment of the series, featuring the incredible blues and Americana singer, Queen Esther. Hailing from Atlanta, GA and Charleston, SC, Queen ...
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Jazzmobile Vocal Competition 2008; Queen Esther Takes the Night!
Source:
All About Jazz
2008 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition Harlem's River Room was packed with onlookers, excited to see the results of the final round of the 2008 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition. Every seat was reserved, the bar was full and even outside, many fans had taken a drink and accented to watching the performances through the large open windows. The prestigious judges, Dr. Billy Taylor, T.S. Monk and Eunice Newkirk were in attendance as well as many other important members of the jazz community. Vocalist ...
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The Slipper Room Welcomes JC Hopkins Biggish Band Featuring Queen Esther
Source:
All About Jazz
February 8, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WHAT: THE SLIPPER ROOM WELCOMES JC HOPKINS BIGGISH BAND FEATURING QUEEN ESTHER. WHEN: THURSDAYS, FEBRUARY 10TH AND 24TH; DOORS 9:30 PM. WHERE: THE SLIPPER ROOM, 167 ORCHARD AT STANTON, NEW YORK, NY,(212) 253-7246; http://www.slipperroom.com TICKETS: $8.00. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT DOOR. The Slipper Room welcomes songwriter JC Hopkins and his Biggish Band on Thursdays, February 10th and 24th. Playing original songs in the keys ...
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J.C. Hopkins Biggish Band Featuring Queen Esther Tuesday Nov.16th Knitting Factory / Tap Bar 8PM
Source:
All About Jazz
J.C. Hopkins Biggish Band Featuring Queen Esther JC Hopkins piano vocals Queen Esther vocals Lewis Flip" Barnes trumpet Mark MacGowan trumpet Chuck MacKinnon trumpet J. Walter Hawkes trombone Vincent Chancey french horn Patience Higgins tenor sax Lauren Sevian alto sax Claire Daly bairone sax Warren Smith vibraphone Libery Ellman guitar Hilliard Greene bass Sunny Jain drums Tuesday Nov 16th Knitting Factory / Tap Bar 74 Leonard Street New York City, NY 8PM $8 /Advance $10 / Day of Show (212) ...
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JC Hopkins Biggish Band Featuring Queen Esther To Perform At Fez Under Time Cafe Oct. 11
Source:
All About Jazz
What: JC Hopkins Biggish Band Featuring Queen Esther To Perform At Fez Under Time Cafe. When: Monday, October 11th , 7:30 PM Where: Fez Under Time Cafe, 380 Lafayette Street At Great Jones, New York, NY, (212) 533-7000; http://www.feznyc.com . Tickets: $10.00 Call (212) 533-7000 To Reserve. Songwriter JC Hopkins and his Biggish Band brighten the Fez Under Time Cafe on Monday October 11th, playing heartfelt songs of romance in the keys of bop ...
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“Our admiration for Queen Esther is almost beyond measure.” — Rootstime (Belgium)
"Queen Esther is a Billie Holliday-ish singer. Her singing also somehow reminds me of Sly Stone in the way she slides a syllable from one note to another in her melodies while imbuing the note with funk and the word with poignance."— Rate Your Music
"Every song is sung with passion and fire by this underrated female singer who should be a musical giant." —Country Music People (UK)
“This wasn't the overly produced, swelling, ramped-up, modern gospel that accompanies the ubiquitous Sunday morning, religious radio shows. It was a breathtaking recreation of raw-to-the-bone, plaintive and excruciatingly heartfelt, unadorned, old-time, rural gospel music; the spiritual equivalent of Robert Johnson's worldly, piercing, early delta blues. I personally felt transported to some unassuming, rustic, backwoods, Black American church of the 1930's. Queen Esther's relation to this music through her background, (born and raised in South Carolina), and innate, exquisite sensibility, was evident, as she spoke between songs, probing the audience's knowledge of the music, while filling in a bit of the not-widely-known history of this vital and uniquely American art form. This was a beautiful, artistic and daring performance.” — Healing Arts Initiative